Fruit ripens about with Concord or earlier, appears to keep well. Clusters variable in size, medium to short, rather broad, irregularly tapering with slight tendency to cylindrical, often blunt at ends, usually not shouldered, two to three bunches per shoot, of average compactness; peduncle medium to above in length, thick; pedicel long to medium, thick, quite brittle, nearly smooth; brush long, slender, greenish with brown tinge. Berries unusually large, roundish, purplish-black to black, covered with blue bloom, firm. Skin of medium thickness, variable in toughness, sometimes cracks, adheres considerably to the pulp, contains a large amount of purplish-red pigment, astringent. Flesh pale green, translucent, very juicy, rather tender, stringy, vinous, nearly sweet at skin to rather acid at center, fair to good in quality. Seeds moderately adherent to the pulp, one to four, average two, medium to below in size, short, broad, blunt, rather plump, light brown; raphe buried in a wide, shallow groove; chalaza rather large, at center or slightly above, somewhat obscure.
MAGNATE.
(Labrusca, Vinifera?)
1. Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1891:130. 2. Ib., 1892:270. 3. Bush. Cat., 1894:151. 4. Va. Sta. Bul., 94:141. 1898. 5. Ga. Sta. Bul., 53:46. 1901.
Magnate is a green seedling of Concord and, like several others of Concord’s light-colored offspring, as Lady and Martha, it is better in quality than the parent though the flesh characters are not as good. It does not compare favorably with the best green grapes of its season, either in appearance or quality and is not recommended for New York.
The variety was originated by either John Burr, or Dr. Stayman of Leavenworth, Kansas, from seed of Concord. It was introduced by Stayman & Black in 1891 but has not been widely grown. It is better known in the West than in the East.
Vine medium to vigorous, hardy except in severe winters, medium to productive. Canes intermediate in length, number and size; tendrils continuous, bifid to trifid. Leaves not always healthy, large to medium, variable in color; lower surface grayish-white, pubescent. Flowers nearly fertile, open in mid-season or earlier; stamens upright. Fruit ripens about with Concord, keeps well. Clusters medium to large, sometimes rather broad, occasionally with a medium-sized single shoulder, usually compact and with many abortive fruits. Berries variable in size, roundish, pale green with trace of yellow, covered with a medium amount of gray bloom, persistent. Flesh pale green, slightly tough, vinous, somewhat musky, nearly sweet at skin to acid at center, fair to good in quality. Seeds below medium to small, short, broad, plump.