Vine very vigorous, usually hardy, not a heavy bearer, somewhat subject to mildew. Canes medium to long, numerous, thick, light to dark brown; nodes enlarged, slightly flattened; internodes below average length; diaphragm rather thick; pith large to medium; shoots slightly pubescent; tendrils continuous, medium to long, bifid to trifid.
Leaf-buds open in mid-season, of average size, short, rather thick, conical to obtuse. Young leaves tinged with carmine on lower side extending beyond border of upper side. Leaves medium to very large, thick; upper surface dark green, glossy, smooth, slightly rugose on older leaves; lower surface pale green to indistinct bronze, pubescent; veins rather indistinct; lobes usually three, terminal lobe acute; petiolar sinus medium to deep, narrow, frequently closed and overlapping; lateral sinus shallow to a mere notch; teeth shallow, narrow. Flowers open in mid-season, sterile; stamens reflexed.
Fruit ripens about a week later than Moore Early, keeps well. Clusters of average size or sometimes larger, medium to short, rather broad, irregularly tapering, not uniform, usually single-shouldered, loose to nearly compact; peduncle long to medium in length, somewhat thick; pedicel longish, thick, wide at attachment to berry, covered with numerous large warts; brush short, thick, greenish or with brown tinge. Berries resemble Black Hamburg in general appearance but somewhat variable, averaging large, oval to roundish, dark purplish-red or black, dull, covered with thick blue bloom, hang well to pedicel, firm. Skin of average thickness, tough, adheres slightly to pulp, contains a small amount of bright red pigment, strongly astringent. Flesh greenish, translucent, somewhat tough, stringy, agreeably tart at skin but acid at center, good in quality, resembling Black Hamburg. Seeds adherent, one to four, averaging three, large, rather broad, long, plump, somewhat blunt, light brown; raphe usually obscure; chalaza somewhat large, above center, irregularly circular, distinct.
AUTUCHON.
(Riparia, Labrusca, Vinifera.)
1. Downing, 1869:530. 2. Grape Cult., 1:325, 334, 368. 1869. fig. 3. Horticulturist, 24:19, 1869. 4. Ib., 25:74. 1870. 5. Grape Cult., 2:265. 1870. 6. Barry, 1872:424. 7. Horticulturist, 27:14. 1872. 8. Montreal Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1881:159. 9. Bush. Cat., 1883:71. fig. 10. Minn. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1884:249. 11. Can. Cen. Exp. Farms Rpt., 1891:134. 12. Traité gen. de vit., 5:200. 1903.
Arnold’s No. 5 (3). Arnold’s No. 5 (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12).
Autuchon was introduced about 1870 with great éclat. It was heralded as the “best white grape in America—a veritable treasure.” Later it was grown and somewhat widely tested in France. But in neither country has it come up to expectations. In America it has proved to be somewhat tender to cold, an unreliable bearer and subject to rot and mildew. In France it shows the same weaknesses and is not as resistant to phylloxera as are other and better American sorts. The quality of Autuchon is excellent, being that of its European parent with the agreeable sprightliness of its American ancestor. According to the reports regarding it from France it makes a “wine remarkably white, vinous and fresh, slightly musky and agreeable, and of a beautiful yellow color.”[159]