1. An. Hort., 1889:101. 2. Rural N. Y., 51:686, 863. 1892. 3. Bush. Cat., 1894:125. 4. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:279. 1895. 5. Ib., 17:530, 548, 555. 1898. 6. Mich. Sta. Bul., 194:57. 1901. 7. Kan. Sta. Bul., 110:239. 1902.
Ester is a white seedling of Concord, whether pure-bred or cross-bred is not known, which resembles its parent in vine and in flavor of fruit. It has several defects which make it less valuable than many other better known white grapes and is therefore not recommended for New York. Its defects appear in the description given below.
The variety was originated by E. W. Bull of Concord, Massachusetts, from seed of Concord. It was introduced by George S. Josselyn of Fredonia, New York, in 1889. Bull named this variety in honor of his mother who spelled her name Ester, in the old New England way, and not “Esther” as commonly found in grape literature.
Vine variable in vigor and productiveness, usually hardy. Canes short to medium, slender, covered with considerable pubescence; tendrils continuous, rarely intermittent, bifid to trifid. Leaves small, light green; lower surface tinged with bronze, pubescent. Flowers nearly fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright. Fruit ripens about with Concord, not a good keeper. Clusters medium to above in size and compactness. Berries medium to large, roundish, pale yellowish-white, covered with thin gray bloom, inclined to drop considerably from pedicel. Skin covered with scattering brown dots, thin, somewhat tender, inclined to crack. Flesh moderately tender and vinous, sweet, variable in flavor and quality ranging from fair to very good.
ETTA.
(Riparia, Labrusca.)
1. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1881:33. 2. Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1883:43. 3. Bush. Cat., 1883:98. fig. 4. Kan. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:23, app. 5. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 10:496. 1891. 6. Ill. Sta. Bul., 28:263. 1893. 7. Ark. Sta. Bul., 39:30. 1896. 8. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:530, 545, 547, 555, 559. 1898. 9. Tex. Sta. Bul., 48:1149, 1156. 1898. 10. Mich. Sta. Bul., 177:44. 1899. 11. Ga. Sta. Bul., 53:43. 1901. 12. Kan. Sta. Bul., 110:244. 1902.
Elvira Seedling No. 3 (3). Rommel’s Etta (4, 12). Rommel’s No. 3 (1).
In appearance, taste and texture of flesh Etta is very similar to Elvira of which it is a seedling. The small yellowish clusters which characterize Elvira are almost exactly reproduced in Etta differing chiefly in often having a shoulder quite as large as the main bunch itself, and in having, for most palates, a better flavor, lacking the slight foxiness of Elvira. The vine is very vigorous, hardy, and productive to a fault. The fruit ripens late, at the time of Catawba, and too late to make the variety of value for New York. Etta is not a good table grape and, as with its parent, makes only a fair grade of white wine but this can be produced in such quantity as to give the variety value in producing a wine for blending with more highly flavored products.
The tendency of Elvira to crack and overbear caused the originator of that variety, Jacob Rommel of Morrison, Missouri, to try for a grape without these faults and the result was Etta from seed of Elvira. It was first exhibited in 1879 as Elvira Seedling No. 3 and was awarded the premium as a seedling wine grape at the Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society meeting in St. Louis in 1880. It has never become popular in the East, probably on account of its late ripening. In Missouri Etta is generally considered to be, all characters taken into account, a better grape than Elvira, falling below it in but one particular, resistance to black-rot.