The grapes of New York

by U. P. Hedrick

Fruit ripens about with Concord, does not keep well. Clusters intermediate in size, above medium to short, of average breadth, cylindrical, usually single-shouldered, compact; peduncle short to medium, rather thick; pedicel not long, of average thickness, nearly smooth; brush short, greenish-yellow with brownish tinge. Berries average medium in size, roundish to slightly oblate, often misshapen on account of compactness, greenish with yellow tinge, rather dull, covered with a fair amount of gray bloom, not always persistent, rather firm. Skin very thin, tender, adheres slightly to the pulp, contains no pigment, somewhat astringent. Flesh greenish, juicy, fine-grained, tender, slightly foxy, sweet, not acid at the center, somewhat flat in flavor, of fair quality. Seeds separate easily from the pulp, one to four, average three, medium to nearly large, medium to broad, intermediate in length, blunt, often plump, medium to dark brown; raphe obscure or nearly so; chalaza of average size, slightly above center, pear-shaped, rather distinct. Must 88°.

EMPIRE STATE.
(Riparia, Labrusca, Vinifera?)

1. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1881:66. 2. Mass. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1882:227. 3. Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1882:46. 4. Bush. Cat., 1883:99. 5. Gar. Mon., 26:272, 364. 1884. 6. W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 31:110. 1886. 7. Rural N. Y., 46:20, 495. 1887. 8. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1887:97, 125. 9. Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1887-8:85, 169. 10. Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1889:370. 11. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1889:24. 12. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 13:603. 1894. 13. Bush. Cat., 1894:125. 14. Col. Sta. Bul., 29:22. 1894. 15. Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1894-5:11. 16. Tenn. Sta. Bul., Vol. 9:180. 1896. 17. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:530, 541, 544, 548, 552. 1898.

Empire State competes with Niagara, Diamond and Pocklington for supremacy among green grapes in commercial vineyards, probably taking fourth place the country over. The variety is equally vigorous in growth, just as free from predaceous parasites, whether fungi or insects, and upon vines of the same age it is as productive but is a little less hardy and the grapes are not as attractive in appearance as the other varieties named. In particular the clusters are small in some localities, a defect which can be overcome only by severe pruning or by thinning. The quality is very good, much better than Niagara, somewhat better than Pocklington and nearly as good as Diamond. It approaches the flavor of the Old World grapes, its slight wild taste suggesting one of the Muscats rather than the foxiness of the Niagara. Empire State is esteemed for the table wherever known and is in demand for wine-making, the wine from it being most excellent for champagne according to reports from the Keuka champagne-makers. Empire State ripens a little earlier than Niagara, hangs long upon the vine and keeps well after picking and without losing flavor. The variety is quite distinct in its horticultural as well as its botanical characters.

This somewhat remarkable white grape was originated by James H. Ricketts of Newburgh, New York. The variety was fruited for the first time in 1879. The originator says that it came from seed of Hartford pollinated by Clinton but this parentage has been questioned by many viticulturists as it does not show characters of either of the reputed parents. A very general supposition is that the variety is a hybrid between Clinton and some variety of Vinifera, the characters of the fruit in particular indicating such breeding. Empire State was bought from the originator by George A. Stone of Rochester for $4,000, a record price for an American grape. It was introduced about 1884 and was placed on the grape list of the American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1889, where it still remains.

Vine a fair to good grower, usually healthy, in some locations appears somewhat tender, moderately productive to productive. Canes short, medium to few, nearly slender, brownish; nodes slightly enlarged, not flattened; internodes short to medium; diaphragm of average thickness; pith of medium size; shoots pubescent; tendrils intermittent, intermediate in length, bifid.

Leaf-buds small to medium, of average length, rather slender, pointed to conical, open moderately late. Young leaves tinged with faint trace of red on under side, prevailing color greenish. Leaves small to medium, of fair thickness; upper surface light green, slightly glossy, smooth to somewhat rugose; lower surface tinged with bronze, heavily pubescent; veins distinct; lobes three to five when present, with terminal lobe acuminate; petiolar sinus medium to deep, narrow, often closed and overlapping; basal sinus variable in depth and width; lateral sinus deep, narrow to medium, often distinctly enlarged at base; teeth medium to deep, above average width. Flowers fertile, open moderately late; stamens upright.