Vine vigorous to very vigorous, hardy, productive. Canes medium to above in length, intermediate in number and thickness, medium to dark reddish-brown; tendrils continuous to intermittent, trifid to bifid. Leaves unusually large, thick; upper surface medium green, dull, of average smoothness; lower surface grayish-white changing to slight bronze, considerably pubescent; veins fairly distinct.
Fruit ripens between Worden and Concord, appears to keep well. Clusters large to above medium, above average length, broad to medium, irregularly tapering to slightly cylindrical, usually single-shouldered, compact to medium. Berries unusually large averaging slightly below McPike in size, roundish, reddish-black to black as the fruit fully matures, covered with heavy blue bloom, persistent, firm. Skin medium to thick, tough, adheres considerably to the pulp, contains a moderate amount of reddish pigment, astringent. Flesh pale green, very juicy, somewhat tough, stringy and with some foxiness, sweet at skin to agreeably tart at center, good in quality. Seeds adherent, not numerous, above average in size, short, broad, slightly notched if at all, blunt to medium, plump, light brown; raphe hidden in a shallow groove; chalaza large, at center or above, obscure.
LADY.
(Labrusca, Vinifera.)
1. Horticulturist, 29:48. 1874. 2. Ib., 30:84, fig., 367. 1875. 3. Mich. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1875:295, 411. fig. 4. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 18:40, 135, 136, 143, 162. 1881. 5. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1881:24. 6. N. J. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1881:12. 7. Bush. Cat., 1883:114. 8. Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1883:81. 10. Rural N. Y., 45:234, 622. 1886. 12. Gar. and For., 3:178, 214, 490, 599. 1890. 13. Ill. Sta. Bul., 28:264. 1893. 14. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:532, 548, 552. 1898.
Lady is generally accredited with being the highest in quality of all the seedlings of Concord and, added to its high quality, it is early, fairly vigorous, hardy, and nearly as free from fungal diseases as its parent. It is not, however, without faults, one of which, a thin, tender skin which cracks badly, wholly debars it from ever making a commercial variety for other than nearby markets. The vine is much like that of Concord, though not as vigorous nor as productive, but ripening its fruit fully two weeks earlier. The fruit is much superior to Concord in quality, being richer, sweeter, and having less foxiness. It hangs on the vines well but deteriorates rapidly after picking. The term “ironclad” used by grape-growers to express hardiness and freedom from diseases, is probably as applicable to Lady as to any other of our Labrusca grapes. The foliage is dense and of a deep glossy green color, neither scalding under a hot sun, nor freezing until heavy frosts, making it an attractive ornament in the garden. It is deservedly popular as an amateur grape and should be planted more for nearby markets. It may be expected to succeed wherever Concord is grown, and because of its early ripening is especially adapted to northern latitudes where Concord does not always mature. Though it ripens early it starts its buds late and blossoms late, thereby often escaping late spring frosts.
When Lady was first heard of, it was in the hands of a Mr. Imlay of Muskingum County, Ohio. He had received it as a premium from an agricultural paper with others, all represented to be pure Concord seedlings. This was during the Civil War. Later the variety was sold to George W. Campbell of Delaware, Ohio, who introduced it in 1874. Lady was placed on the grape list of the American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1881 where it is still retained. The Lady is another example of a green seedling of Concord which excels its parent in quality. Among several of such seedlings, this variety is one of the highest in quality.
Vine weak to moderately vigorous, hardy, medium in productiveness, healthy. Canes short, medium in number, slender, dark reddish-brown; nodes of fair size, flattened; internodes short; diaphragm thick; pith intermediate in size; shoots pubescent; tendrils intermittent, of average length, bifid to trifid.
Leaf-buds small, short, pointed to conical. Leaves medium to below in size, of average thickness; upper surface light green, glossy, medium to somewhat rugose; lower surface pale green; pubescent; veins rather indistinct; lobes none to five, with terminal lobe acuminate; petiolar sinus shallow to medium, wide; basal sinus of average width; lateral sinus variable in depth and width; teeth medium to shallow, intermediate in width. Flowers fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright.
Fruit ripens with Winchell, does not keep well. Clusters not uniform, small to above medium, short, slender, cylindrical, sometimes single-shouldered, compact to straggling; peduncle medium to short, of average size; pedicel intermediate in length, thick and smooth, wide at point of attachment to fruit; brush slender, long, greenish-white. Berries variable in size, large to below medium, roundish, light green, often with tinge of yellow, glossy, covered with thin gray bloom, persistent, firm. Skin covered with small, scattering, dark dots, inclined to crack, thin, tender, adheres slightly to the pulp, contains no pigment, slightly astringent. Flesh greenish-white, translucent, juicy, tender, aromatic, agreeably sweet from skin to center, very good in quality. Seeds separate from the pulp rather easily, few in number, intermediate in size and length, medium to broad, blunt, light brown; raphe obscure; chalaza large, above center, circular to oval, not distinct.