Leaf-buds small, short to medium, slender, open in mid-season. Young leaves tinged on lower side and along margin of upper side with bright carmine. Leaves medium to small, of average thickness; upper surface dark green, often rugose; lower surface bronze to whitish-green, pubescent; veins somewhat distinct; leaf usually not lobed, with terminus acute to acuminate; petiolar sinus moderately deep, medium to sometimes wide; basal sinus lacking; lateral sinus rather shallow and narrow when present; teeth shallow, narrow. Flowers fertile, open somewhat early; stamens upright.
Fruit ripens earlier than Concord, some seasons about with Worden, does not keep nor ship well. Clusters medium to small, short and broad, blunt at end, cylindrical to sometimes conical, usually not shouldered, compact; peduncle intermediate in length, rather thick; pedicel short, of average thickness, covered with small, scattering, inconspicuous warts; brush slender, of average length, pale green. Berries large to below medium, roundish, light to dark red, dull, covered with thin, whitish or lilac bloom, drop badly from pedicel, nearly firm. Skin intermediate in thickness somewhat tender, adheres to the pulp, contains no pigment, astringent. Flesh pale green, translucent, moderately juicy, somewhat tough, strongly foxy, sweet next the skin to slightly tart at center, fair to possibly good in quality. Seeds adhere to the pulp unless the fruit is fully ripe, one to four, average two, usually above medium size, broad, often rather short and blunt, dark brown; raphe buried in a small, rather indistinct groove; chalaza large, at center or slightly above, irregularly circular, rather distinct.
McPIKE.
(Labrusca.)
1. Rural N. Y., 55:622, fig., 627. 1896. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1897:13. 3. Nat. Nurs., 7:119. 1899. 4. Ib., 8:93. 1900. 5. Rural N. Y., 60:170, 226, 290, 614, 710. 1901.
McPike is noteworthy chiefly because of the large size of the berries, though the bunches, too, average large. The accompanying illustration shows the size of the berry accurately but the bunch, as shown here, is too small.[198]
McPike in vine and fruit characters is very similar to its parent, Worden, differing in having fewer but larger berries per bunch, grapes not as high in flavor, and fewer and smaller seeds. Because of a thin, tender skin the berries crack somewhat, shell more or less, and the vines are less productive than those of Worden. The faults just named seem to debar it pretty effectually from becoming a commercial grape in New York and it is not high enough in quality and is lacking in too many other fruit characters to make it of value for the amateur. It should be said, however, that the variety has not been largely tested in New York and further experience with it is needed to fully determine its value in this State.
This variety was originated by H. G. McPike of Mount Lookout Park, Alton, Illinois, from seed of Worden planted in 1890. It was introduced in 1897 by Silas Wilson of Atlantic, Iowa. McPike is a typical black descendant of Concord, bearing a strong resemblance in its gross characters to Eaton, Hosford, Chautauqua, King, and its parent, Worden.
Vine vigorous to medium, hardy, productive to very productive. Canes intermediate in length, number and thickness, dull dark reddish-brown; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes very short; diaphragm thick to medium; pith large; shoots thinly pubescent; tendrils continuous, of average length, bifid to trifid.
Leaf-buds about average size, short, thick to medium, obtuse to conical, compressed. Leaves large, thick; upper surface light green, dull, medium to slightly rugose; lower surface grayish-white to bronze, heavily pubescent; veins fairly distinct; leaf not lobed, with terminus acute to obtuse; petiolar sinus deep to medium, rather wide; basal and lateral sinuses lacking; teeth intermediate in depth and width. Flowers fertile or nearly so.