1. Mag. Hort., 26:552. 1860. fig. 2. U. S. Pat. Off. Rpt., 1861:477. 3. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1862:90. 4. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1862:157. 5. Strong, 1866:352. 6. Husmann, 1866:124. 7. Fuller, 1867:247. 8. Am. Jour. Hort., 4:275. 1868. 9. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1871:108. 10. Mich. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1872:540. fig. 11. Bush. Cat., 1883:128.
Blue Tart (2). Blue Vine Grape (2). Oporto (2).
Oporto was at one time somewhat sought for as a wine grape from the fact that its wine resembled in color and flavor that from Oporto. The name has given many the idea that the grape is a European variety—a misnomer in this respect, as its botanical characters show it to be a cross between Riparia and Labrusca. The variety is now scarcely known, being inferior in most of its horticultural characters to others of its species, but it might be valuable in breeding work for some of its characters. Oporto is very hardy, unusually free from fungal diseases, and its must is very thick and dark, even staining the hands a deep purple, hence suitable for adding color to wines. The variety is very resistant to phylloxera and has been used in France as a phylloxera-resistant grafting stock.
The origin of this variety is unknown. It was introduced into cultivation about 1860 by E. W. Sylvester of Lyons, New York. The Oporto was placed on the American Pomological Society list in 1862 and removed in 1867. The botanical characters indicate that this variety is a Riparia-Labrusca cross-breed. It has much the same vine characters as Clinton, but is, if anything, more rampant in growth than that vigorous variety.
Vine vigorous to very vigorous, unusually hardy, healthy, variable in productiveness. Canes above medium to long, of medium thickness, dark brown to reddish-brown, surface covered with thin blue bloom; tendrils continuous, bifid. Stamens reflexed.
Fruit ripens with Concord, ships and keeps well. Clusters medium to small, inferior in length, intermediate in width, cylindrical to oval, often single-shouldered, variable in compactness. Berries below medium in size, roundish to oblate, frequently compressed on account of compactness of cluster, black, glossy, covered with abundant blue bloom, persistent, firm. Skin very thin, tender, contains a large amount of dark wine-colored pigment. Flesh nearly white, or sometimes with purplish tinge, moderately juicy, fine-grained, inclined to solid, sweet to somewhat acid, decidedly spicy, of fair quality. Seeds separate somewhat easily from the pulp, often numerous, below medium to small, of average length, inclined to broad, faintly notched, often sharply pointed, plump, dark brown; raphe sometimes shows as a partly submerged cord in the shallow groove; chalaza of average size, above center, oval, nearly obscure.
ORIENTAL.
(Vinifera, Labrusca.)
1. Barry, 1883:449. 2. Kan. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1889-90:95. 3. Ill. Sta. Bul., 28:256. 1893. 4. Col. Sta. Bul., 29:19. 1894. 5. Bush. Cat., 1894:165.
Oriental is an excellent dark red Vinifera-Labrusca hybrid resembling Rogers’ red hybrids but not in any way surpassing them. While a good grape, it is doubtful if it can take the place of the better known varieties of Rogers. Like many grapes of this class its fruit is of high quality but the vine is of only moderate vigor and is susceptible to mildew and black-rot. Oriental is more satisfactory in the dry portions of the middle West than in New York.
This variety was produced by N. B. White of Norwood, Massachusetts, from seed of a wild Labrusca fertilized with Black Hamburg pollen.