Lucile is of interest and of value because of its truly remarkable vine characters. In vigor, health, hardiness and productiveness it is not surpassed by any of the cultivated native grapes. It is probably a seedling of Wyoming but the vine is much more vigorous than even that variety, which is considered a very strong grower. Yet with all of its great growth Lucile ripens its wood almost perfectly. It is very productive, as much so as any other of our native grapes, often bearing four bunches to the shoot, its crops exceeding those of Concord. It has never been known to winterkill in the grape regions of New York and is probably as hardy as any other of our Labruscas. Its fruit and foliage are very nearly immune to the fungal diseases of the grape.
Unfortunately the fruit characters of Lucile are not as desirable as the vine characters. The size, form, and color of bunches and berries are all good, making a very attractive fruit, but it has an obnoxious, foxy taste and odor objectionable to those who know good grapes though even in flavor it is better than its supposed parent and is on a par with some of the other varieties of its season. A further objection to the berries is that they are both pulpy and seedy. It is earlier than Concord, coming about with Worden or preceding it a few days. For so early a variety the fruit keeps very well and in spite of its somewhat thin skin ships very well. It is not at all capricious as to soils, seemingly thriving in all good grape soils.
Lucile may be recommended where an extra hardy grape is desired, for localities where the season is short, and as a variety for breeding purposes, should it prove capable of transmitting its vine characters, and for those who do not object to foxiness of taste and aroma in grapes.
J. A. Putnam of Fredonia, Chautauqua County, New York, is the producer of Lucile. The vine fruited for the first time in 1890, it being then two years old, and was introduced by Lewis Roesch of Fredonia in 1899. It is supposed to be a seedling of Wyoming which it resembles very much in both fruit and vine characters and surpasses in both. It is a typical red Labrusca in all of its characters.
Vine vigorous, hardy, very productive, yielding as good or better crops than Concord. Canes medium to long, rather numerous, intermediate in thickness, light brown; nodes strongly enlarged, usually flattened; internodes medium to short; diaphragm moderately thick; pith about medium in size; shoots slightly pubescent; tendrils continuous, of average length, bifid to trifid.
Leaf-buds below medium to small, short, moderately thick, pointed to conical, open in mid-season. Young leaves heavily tinged on lower side and along margin of upper side with bright carmine. Leaves healthy, medium to large, of average thickness, firm; upper surface light green, glossy, moderately smooth; lower surface pale green or with tinge of bronze, pubescent; veins distinct; leaf usually not lobed, with terminus acute; petiolar sinus shallow, narrow to medium, sometimes closed and overlapping; basal sinus usually absent; lateral sinus a mere notch when present; teeth very shallow, of average width. Flowers fertile, open early; stamens upright.