PEABODY.
(Riparia, Labrusca, Vinifera.)
1. Bush. Cat., 1883:129. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1883:92. 3. Mass. Hatch Sta. An. Rpt., 6:22. 1893. 4. Va. Sta. Bul., 30:108. 1893. 5. Can. Cen. Exp. Farms Rpt., 1894:139. 6. Mich. Sta. Bul., 169:174. 1899. 7. Ib., 194:58. 1901.
Peabody is a comparatively unimportant offspring of Clinton produced by Ricketts. The grapes are too small for dessert purposes and their value for wine seems not to have been determined though from its parentage it would be called a wine grape. In general appearance Peabody resembles Ricketts’ Advance but is later, not so strong a grower, nor so prolific nor hardy. It appears to do better in the northern tier of states or in Canada than farther south.
This variety is supposed to be a seedling of Clinton grown by J. H. Ricketts about 1870 and introduced in 1882. The fruit is distinctly different in several characters from Clinton or other seedlings of that variety suggesting that Peabody is not a pure-bred seedling.
Vine vigorous, hardy, produces medium crops. Canes long, numerous, often thick, light brown with ash-gray tinge, considerably darker at nodes, covered with thin blue bloom; tendrils intermittent, bifid to trifid. Leaves medium to above in size, dark green, thin, lower surface pale green, nearly glabrous. Flowers semi-fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright. Fruit ripens rather early, keeps well. Clusters large to medium, medium to long, usually with a fair-sized shoulder connected to the bunch by a long stem, compact to medium. Berries intermediate in size, distinctly oval to roundish, black, glossy, covered with abundant blue bloom, persistent. Skin thick, tough, not astringent. Flesh very juicy, tender, vinous, spicy, agreeably sweet at skin to tart at center, good in quality. Seeds usually separate from the pulp easily when fully mature, intermediate in size, broad; raphe sometimes shows as a partially submerged cord in the bottom of a rather wide, deep groove; chalaza distinctly above center, often roughened.
PERFECTION.
(Labrusca, Bourquiniana, Vinifera.)
1. Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1889:372. 2. Ib., 1892:268. 3. Bush. Cat., 1894:168. 4. Va. Sta. Bul., 94:138. 1898. 5. Ga. Sta. Bul., 53:48. 1901.
Perfection is a seedling of Delaware, which it greatly resembles but does not equal in New York, being hardly as high in quality, does not keep as well, shrivels before ripening, and shells badly. In its vine characters it is much more like a Labrusca than Delaware, suggesting that it is a Delaware cross. In the Southwest it is considered a valuable early red grape.
Dr. J. Stayman of Leavenworth, Kansas, originated Perfection from seed of Delaware; sent out for testing about 1890.
Vine medium to vigorous, healthy, injured in severe winters, productive. Canes intermediate in length and number, slender; tendrils intermittent, trifid to bifid. Leaves healthy, medium in size and color; lower surface grayish-white with tinge of bronze, heavily pubescent. Flowers fertile or nearly so, open in mid-season; stamens upright. Fruit ripens before Delaware, does not keep well. Clusters intermediate in size, averaging slightly larger than Delaware, of fair length, usually single-shouldered, compact. Berries medium to small, nearly roundish when not misshapen by compactness of cluster, attractive red but slightly less brilliant than Delaware, covered with thin gray or faint lilac bloom, inclined to drop from pedicel, soft. Skin thin, variable in toughness, not astringent. Flesh medium in juiciness and tenderness, vinous, mild, moderately sweet, good in quality but inferior to Delaware. Seeds adherent to the pulp, quite numerous, below medium to small, of average length, often with slightly enlarged neck.