Vine vigorous to rank, usually productive, somewhat tender, subject to attacks of fungi. Canes large, long; internodes short. Leaves coarse and large. Fruit ripens about one week before Isabella, matures unevenly. Clusters large to very large, often shouldered, compact. Berries large to very large, roundish, dark purplish-black covered with heavy bloom, shell badly. Skin moderately thin. Flesh tart, resembling Isabella somewhat in flavor, quality fair to good.
VERGENNES.
(Labrusca.)
1. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1881:34, 117. 2. Barry, 1883:450. 3. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1883:26. 4. W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 29:19, 112. 1884. 5. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1885:103, 105. 6. Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1886-7:172. 7. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 9:330. 1890. 8. Ill. Sta. Bul., 28:262. 1893. 9. Bush. Cat., 1894:184. fig. 10. Gar. and For., 8:487. 1895. 11. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:536, 542, 543, 544, 548, 553. 1898. 12. Ib., 18:383, 389, 396. 1899. 13. Mo. Sta. Bul., 46:41, 43, 44, 45, 53, 76. 1899. 14. Mich. Sta. Bul., 169:176. 1899. 15. Kan. Sta. Bul., 110:237. 1902. 16. Ont. Fr. Gr. Assoc. Rpt., 34:99. 1902.
While not one of the leading commercial varieties in New York, Vergennes has steadily increased in popularity during the thirty years since its introduction. One of the most valuable attributes of Vergennes is that it seldom fails to bear a crop though it has a tendency to overbear which causes it to be variable in size of fruits and in time of ripening; with a moderate crop it ripens with Concord but with a heavy load of grapes the crop matures from one to two weeks later. Vergennes is somewhat unpopular with vineyardists because of the sprawling habit of the vine making a vineyard of this grape untractable for vineyard operations. This fault is obviated somewhat by grafting it on other vines. In some of the grape regions of New York the vines are precariously hardy though tenderness to cold can hardly be said to be a serious fault of the variety.
The appearance of the fruit is attractive and while the quality is not high, yet it is good; the flavor is agreeable, the flesh is tender and seeds and skin are not objectionable. Considering all of its fruit characters, Vergennes may be said to be more than an ordinary grape—much better than several better known commercial varieties. The variety is somewhat remarkable in being probably the best shipper and the best keeper among the pure Labrusca varieties. Nearly all of the grapes which ship and keep well have more or less Vinifera blood, but if Vergennes has any foreign blood it shows it only in its keeping and shipping qualities. At present Vergennes is the standard late-keeping grape for this region being very commonly found in the markets as late as January and sometimes February. A number of seedlings of Vergennes, pure-bred and cross-bred, growing on the Station grounds, show that this variety transmits its characters well to its offspring indicating that it has value for grape-breeding. Vergennes may be recommended for its intrinsic value for the vineyard and the garden and to the experimenter as one of the best pure Labruscas for the production of new and improved varieties.
The original vine of this variety was a chance seedling found in the garden of William E. Greene, Vergennes, Vermont. It fruited for the first time in 1874. It was placed on the list of sorts recommended by the American Pomological Society in 1883 and is still retained.