Martha was at one time the most popular of the green grapes but the introduction of many other green varieties of superior fruit and vine characters has gradually reduced its popularity until it is now but little grown. It is a seedling of Concord and resembles its parent greatly, differing from it chiefly in the following particulars: Fruit green, a week or more earlier, bunch and berries smaller, quality far better, being sweeter, more delicate, and with less foxiness and less pulp. About the only difference in the vines is a lighter shade of green in Martha and less robustness, with blossoms opening a few days earlier than Concord. Martha is often sold in the markets as Niagara, though the resemblance between the two is not strong, the Niagara being larger in bunch and berry and not as high in quality. One of the defects of Martha, and the chief cause of its going out of favor, is that it does not keep nor ship well. A very good white wine is made from Martha. The variety is still being planted in some parts of the South, but is generally abandoned in the North.
Samuel Miller, then of Calmdale, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, grew Martha from seed of Concord sent him by E. W. Bull. The variety was introduced about 1868 by J. Knox of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. It was placed on the American Pomological Society fruit catalog list in 1869 and dropped from that list in 1899.
Vine variable in vigor, hardy, intermediate in productiveness, somewhat susceptible to attacks of mildew in unfavorable seasons. Canes medium to long, of average number and size, rather dark reddish-brown, surface covered with thin bloom, slightly roughened; tendrils continuous to intermittent, bifid. Leaves large to medium, rather thick; upper surface light green, intermediate in smoothness; lower surface light bronze, heavily pubescent; veins well defined. Flowers self-fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright.
Fruit ripens somewhat earlier than Concord, does not keep nor ship well. Clusters medium in size, often below average length, intermediate in width, tapering to cylindrical, usually single-shouldered, inclined to be loose. Berries medium in size, roundish, light green with tinge of yellow, covered with thin gray bloom, persistent, medium in firmness. Skin thin, very tender, does not usually crack, adheres considerably to the pulp, contains no pigment, with scarcely any astringency. Flesh pale yellowish-green, juicy, moderately tough, fine-grained, slightly foxy, sweet at skin to somewhat tart at center, mild, good to very good in quality but not as good as Lady. Seeds few in number, rather adherent, intermediate in size and length, broad, rather blunt, dark brown; raphe obscure; chalaza small, slightly above center, oval, frequently shows as a mere depression. Must 85°-90°.
