1. Gar. Mon., 21:362. 1879. 2. Ib., 22:142, 176, 191. 1880. 3. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1881:33, 44. 4. Downing, 1881:167 app. 5. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1881:24. 6. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1885:83, 103, 105. 7. Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1885-6:171. 8. Gar. and For., 3:178, 290. 1890. 9. Bush. Cat., 1894:143. fig. 10. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:531, 548, 552. 1898. 11. Va. Sta. Bul., 94:137. 1898. 12. Kan. Sta. Bul., 110:239. 1902.
Jefferson is the offspring of Concord crossed with Iona, resembling in vigor, productiveness and healthiness the Concord, though not equal to it; and in color and quality of fruit the Iona. It falls considerably short of being an Iona fruit on a Concord vine, however, which would have made it one of the most valuable of American grapes. The vine produces its fruit two weeks later than Concord and is not nearly as hardy, faults that debar it from taking high rank as a commercial grape in New York. In its botanical characters and in immunity from diseases it is almost identical with Concord. Fortunately the vines yield readily to “laying down” for winter protection so that even in commercial plantations it is not difficult to cover the vines and so prevent winter injury.
The fruit of Jefferson is handsomer than that of Iona and of almost equal quality. The accompanying color-plate shows the large, well-formed, compact bunch, with berries of uniform size and color, which, taken together, make it one of the most attractive of red grapes. The flesh is firm, yet tender and juicy with a rich, vinous flavor and a delicate aroma which persists even after the berries have dried into raisins. The fruit ships and keeps well, the berries adhering to the cluster and the fruit retaining its freshness into late winter. The vine characters, with the exceptions of late bearing and tenderness to cold, are in the main good.
Jefferson is widely distributed and is well known by viticulturists in eastern America. It is not particular as to localities, if the season be long and the climate temperate, and thrives in nearly all grape soils though it does not flourish in a soil strongly impregnated with lime. This variety is deserving greater recognition as a commercial grape than it now receives. In a discriminating market it should command a sufficiently high price to make it a profitable variety to grow in this State despite its need of protection. Few grapes, and probably no red grape, are more desirable inhabitants of the garden than Jefferson; it not only furnishes an abundance of the best long-keeping fruit, but is also very ornamental throughout the season.
This variety is one of J. H. Ricketts’[196] grapes from seed of Concord pollinated with Iona. It fruited for the first time in 1874 and was introduced about 1880. In 1881 it was placed on the grape list of the American Pomological Society fruit catalog and has never been removed. Of all the remarkable seedlings raised by Ricketts the Jefferson is best known and most widely disseminated. The variety won for its originator the Wilder silver medal and as grown by him seldom failed to take premiums at exhibitions where shown. It is greatly to be regretted that the variety does not have all of the characters requisite to adapt it to culture in commercial vineyards.
Vine normally vigorous, healthy, not always hardy, medium in productiveness. Canes short, numerous, about medium in thickness, light to dark brown; nodes enlarged, roundish; internodes short; diaphragm thick; pith medium to below in size; shoots heavily pubescent; tendrils intermittent, medium to short, bifid to trifid.
Leaf-buds small, short, slender, pointed to conical, open very late. Young leaves tinged on under side and along margin of upper side with rose carmine. Leaves healthy, above medium to small, of average thickness; upper surface light green, medium to rugose on older leaves; lower surface very pale green, strongly pubescent; veins distinct; leaf usually not lobed with terminus acute; petiolar sinus of mean depth, narrow to wide, sometimes closed and overlapping; basal sinus usually absent; lateral sinus shallow, often a mere notch; teeth regular, shallow, of average width. Flowers nearly fully self-fertile, open late; stamens upright.
Fruit ripens late, usually about with Catawba, keeps and ships well. Clusters large to medium, intermediate in length and width, cylindrical to slightly tapering, usually single-shouldered, but sometimes double-shouldered, medium to compact; peduncle short, slender; pedicel medium to short, slender, covered with a few, small, inconspicuous warts, enlarged at point of attachment to fruit; brush rather long, slender, pale yellowish-green. Berries medium in size, oval to nearly roundish, light and dark red, glossy, covered with a moderate amount of lilac bloom, persistent, very firm. Skin somewhat thick, tough, nearly free from pulp, contains no pigment, slightly astringent. Flesh light yellowish-green, translucent, very juicy, coarse-grained, tender, vinous, sweet at skin to agreeably tart at center, good to best in quality. Seeds separate easily from the pulp, one to four, average three, intermediate in size, broad, medium to short, blunt, usually plump, brownish; raphe obscure; chalaza of medium size, slightly above center, circular to pear-shaped, distinct.
JESSICA.
(Labrusca, Vinifera.)
1. Gar. Mon., 24:339. 1882. 2. W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 29:19. 1884. 3. Can. Cen. Exp. Farms Rpt., 1891:135. 4. Col. Sta. Bul., 29:22. 1894. 5. Bush. Cat., 1894:144. 6. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:531, 548, 552. 1898. 7. Mich. Sta. Bul., 169:171. 1899. 8. Ont. Fr. Exp. Stas. Rpt., 8:10, fig., 48. 1901. 9. Can. Hort., 24:447. 1901. fig.