Rogers’ No. 28 (1). Rogers’ No. 28 (2, 3, 4, 9).
Requa is one of Rogers’ hybrids hardly equaling others of its color and season. It is an attractive grape in cluster and berry and of very good quality but quite subject to rot and ripening too late for the grape regions of this latitude, being as late as Catawba. In giving his grapes names, Rogers used those of English or German horticultural or botanical celebrities and of some of the Indian names of counties and towns of Massachusetts. Requa was dedicated by Rogers to a Mr. Requa, a horticulturist of local note, of Salem-on-Erie, Massachusetts.
For an account of the parentage and early history of this variety see Rogers’ Hybrids. In 1869 this variety was named Requa, it having been previously known as Rogers’ No. 28. There appear at present to be two varieties passing under this name. Georgia, Texas and Missouri report this variety as having erect stamens but in our vineyard it shows only recurved stamens.
Vine medium to vigorous, hardy except in severe winters, medium in productiveness, not always healthy. Canes medium to long, intermediate in number and thickness; tendrils continuous to intermittent, trifid to bifid. Leaves large to medium, dark green, often thick and rugose; lower surface grayish-green, pubescent. Flowers sterile to partly fertile, open late; stamens reflexed. Fruit ripens about with Catawba or earlier, keeps a long time in good condition. Clusters large to medium, intermediate in length and width, nearly cylindrical, often with a long single shoulder, compact. Berries medium to large, slightly oval to roundish, dark dull red covered with thin gray or lilac bloom, strongly adherent, not firm. Skin thin, nearly tough, adheres considerably to the pulp. Flesh very pale green, somewhat tender, rather stringy, vinous, slightly foxy, almost sweet from skin to center, good to very good in quality. Seeds slightly adherent to the pulp, above medium to medium in size and length, often rather broad, somewhat blunt.
ROCHESTER.
(Labrusca, Vinifera.)
1. W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 23:60. 1878. 2. Ib., 27:22. 1882. 3. Barry, 1883:442. 4. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 9:329. 1890. 5. Ib., 11:634. 1892. 6. Bush. Cat., 1894:173. 7. Va. Sta. Bul., 94:138. 1898. 8. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:534, 546, 547, 552. 1898. 9. Mo. Sta. Bul., 46:41, 43, 44, 45, 53. 1899. 10. Mich. Sta. Bul., 169:175. 1899. 11. Kan. Sta. Bul., 110:240. 1902.
Barry’s No. 19 (1).
Rochester, as the color-plate shows, is a large-clustered, red grape, very handsome in appearance. It is also very good in quality. The vine is a particularly strong grower and very productive and in the locality in and about Rochester at least, very free from diseases. It is so very vigorous that it needs much room and long pruning. The variety is difficult to propagate and therefore not in favor with nurserymen, and is to be had, if at all, usually at extra expense. The grapes are sweet, rich, and vinous, ranking from good to very good in quality. The fruit, however, should be used as soon as ripe, as it does not keep well and the berries quickly shatter from the bunch. As an attractive early red grape Rochester is well worth a place in the garden and possibly in favored locations for a special market.
Ellwanger & Barry of Rochester, Monroe County, New York, in 1867 fruited over one hundred seedling grapes which they had raised from mixed seed of Delaware, Diana, Concord, and Rebecca. Only two of these seedlings were finally saved, the Rochester and the Monroe. The Rochester was introduced by the originators about 1880.
Vine medium to vigorous, usually hardy, medium to productive. Canes long, intermediate in number and size, dark reddish-brown; nodes moderately enlarged, slightly flattened; internodes short; diaphragm thick; pith small, shoots pubescent; tendrils intermittent, long, bifid or trifid.