Fruit ripens in mid-season, keeps and ships well. Clusters medium in size, long, inclined to broad, tapering to nearly cylindrical, frequently single-shouldered, the shoulder being connected to the bunch by a rather long stem, somewhat loose; peduncle medium to long, thick; pedicel short to medium, slender, nearly smooth, strongly enlarged at point of attachment to fruit; brush short, stubby, pale green. Berries large to medium, roundish to slightly oval, dark brick-red, covered with lilac or faint blue bloom, do not usually drop from the pedicel, of average firmness. Skin variable in thickness, tough, adheres considerably to the pulp, contains no pigment, strongly astringent. Flesh very pale green, translucent, juicy, fine-grained, nearly tender, vinous, sweet at skin to tart at center, good to best in quality. Seeds do not separate easily from the pulp unless fully ripe, two to five, average three, intermediate in size and length, distinctly notched, brownish; raphe buried in a deep, broad groove; chalaza small, nearly central, oval to pear-shaped. Must 80°.
LOUISIANA.
(Bourquiniana.)
1. Husmann, 1866:110. 2. Am. Jour. Hort., 3:301. 1868. 3. Grape Cult., 1:22, 42, 100, 244, 326. 1869. 4. Bush. Cat., 1883:118. 5. Husmann, 1895:183. 6. Texas Farm and Ranch, Feb. 8, 1896:10, 11. 7. Ga. Sta. Bul., 53:46. 1901.
Amoreaux (6). Burgunder (1). Clevener? (6). Red Elben (6). Rulander (6). St. Genevieve (6). (N. B. Reference number 6 is to a red grape. Louisiana is black.)
The grape here discussed is of cultural value in the South and is of interest from the standpoint of grape-breeding and, historically, to northern grape-growers. Louisiana first came to notice in Missouri. It was received about 1860 or before by Frederick Muench of Marthasville, Warren County, Missouri, from a Mr. Theard of New Orleans, Louisiana, under the name White and Red Burgundy. Both supposed varieties proved to be alike. Theard informed Muench that the varieties had been imported from France about the first of the century by his (Theard’s) father. There has been much difference of opinion as to whether this imputed origin is correct or not. Munson classes it with the Devereaux section of the Bourquiniana. It is undoubtedly closely related to Herbemont, Lenoir, and others of that class.
The variety has been much confused with Rulander and some are of the opinion that the two varieties are identical. Those who cultivated it earliest and most extensively were, however, of the opinion that they were very similar but distinct. The vine is too tender in the North for cultivation and there are complaints from some sections in the South of the fruit rotting badly.
The following description is taken from various sources:
Vine very vigorous, stocky, short-jointed; leaves cordate, not lobed. Cluster medium to small, shouldered, compact. Berry small, round, black with blue bloom, without pulp, juicy, spicy, sweet.
LUCILE.
(Labrusca.)
1. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 18:395. 1899. 2. Rural N. Y., 60:167. 1901. 3. Ga. Sta. Bul., 53:46. 1901. 4. Budd-Hansen, 2:384. 1902.