The origin of Norton is rather uncertain. In 1830 Prince writes that he received the grape from Dr. D. N. Norton, one of the pioneer grape-growers of Richmond, Virginia, who had originated it from the seed of Bland with Miller’s Burgundy growing nearby. This parentage, it appeared later, was undoubtedly an error as the Norton shows none of the characters of either Bland or Miller’s Burgundy. Prince’s description leaves little doubt but that his Norton was the Norton of to-day. In 1861 there was an article published in the Horticulturist[204] by a Mr. Lemosy saying that the original Norton vine had been discovered in 1835 by his father, Dr. F. A. Lemosy of Richmond, Virginia, on an island in the James River and that Dr. Norton secured the variety from this source. Since Norton had sent this variety to Prince prior to 1830, this story is evidently wrong as to dates and is suspicious as to facts. It is probable that the true history of the variety will never be known. Many grapes of the Norton class have been found at the South, a fact which has led to much confusion as to the origin of varieties as well as in the varieties themselves. Grapes of the Norton type were not looked upon with favor by the early viticulturists and it was not until some years after its introduction that the variety was widely planted—and then in Missouri and not in the region of its origin. The Norton was placed on the grape list of the American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1867, and is yet retained.
This variety has been usually classed as Aestivalis, which is approximately correct although most viticulturists agree that there is a strain of Labrusca present as indicated by the occasional continuity of tendrils. Millardet, of France, believes that the variety may contain a strain of Cinerea as well. But in fruit at least, Norton is essentially a variety of Aestivalis.
Vine very vigorous, healthy, usually hardy but sometimes half-hardy, an uncertain bearer at this Station but producing heavy crops in more southern localities. Canes long, of average number, thick to medium, dark brown to reddish-brown, surface covered with considerable blue bloom; nodes much enlarged; internodes medium to long; diaphragm thick; pith large to medium; shoots pubescent; tendrils intermittent, occasionally continuous, long, bifid to sometimes trifid.
Leaf-buds above average size and thickness, short to medium, often compressed, obtuse to conical, open late. Young leaves considerably tinged on upper and under sides with bright carmine. Leaves medium to large, irregularly roundish, of average thickness; upper surface green, dull, rugose on older leaves; lower surface pale green, slightly pubescent; veins indistinct; leaf usually not lobed with terminus acute to sometimes obtuse; petiolar sinus deep to medium, narrow, sometimes closed and overlapping; basal sinus usually absent; lateral sinus shallow to a mere notch when present; teeth variable in depth and width. Flowers self-fertile, open late; stamens upright.
Fruit ripens too late for this locality, keeps well when properly matured. Clusters medium to small, inclined to short, moderately broad, tapering, usually single-shouldered, medium to compact; peduncle short to medium, thick, sometimes flattened; pedicel intermediate in length, slender, covered with few warts; brush dull, wine-colored. Berries medium to small, roundish to oblate, black, somewhat glossy, covered with heavy blue bloom, persistent, soft. Skin thin, of average toughness, does not adhere to the pulp, contains a large amount of dark red pigment, no astringency. Flesh greenish, translucent, juicy, tender, spicy, tart and somewhat astringent. Seeds separate fairly easily from the pulp, two to six, average three, numerous, medium to small, intermediate in breadth and length, not notched, brownish; raphe distinct; chalaza small, above center, circular, obscure. Must 105°-110°.
NORWOOD.
(Vinifera, Labrusca.)
1. Mass. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1880:231. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1881:43. 3. Ill. Sta. Bul., 28:256. 1893. 4. Bush. Cat., 1894:164. 5. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 13:605. 1894. 6. Col. Sta. Bul., 29:19. 1894. 7. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:533, 545, 546, 548, 552. 1898. 8. Kan. Sta. Bul., 110:242. 1902.
Norwood is a Labrusca-Vinifera cross-breed of the same specific parentage as Rogers’ hybrids which it greatly resembles. It is rather more hardy than most other grapes of its breeding and is preeminently a long keeper, surpassing most of the similar hybrids in this respect, though all of these are notable for their keeping quality. But the variety is incapable of self-fertilization and does not set its fruit well even in a mixed vineyard, which fault should debar it from either the commercial or the amateur list. The quality is from good to very good.
N. B. White originated Norwood from seed of Concord fertilized with Black Hamburg. It was introduced about 1880 and has been rather widely tested but has never been popular, and is now seldom seen in varietal vineyards.