Vine very vigorous, hardy, healthy, productive. Canes average in length, numerous, of medium size, rather light to dark brown with some bloom at nodes which are somewhat enlarged and flattened; internodes intermediate in length; diaphragm below average thickness; pith large to medium; shoots nearly glabrous; tendrils continuous, of mean length, bifid.
Leaf-buds open early, of average size, rather short, thick, obtuse to conical. Young leaves faintly tinged with carmine on lower side only, prevailing color pale green with faint carmine tinge. Leaves medium to small, thin; upper surface dark green, glossy, smooth; lower surface dull green, not pubescent; veins indistinct; lobes three in number, terminal lobe acuminate; petiolar sinus medium to shallow, narrow sometimes nearly overlapping; basal sinus lacking; lateral sinus shallow, wide; teeth of average depth and width. Flowers open early, sterile; stamens upright.
Fruit ripens late and keeps well, hanging a long time on the vine. Clusters small to medium, below average length, rather slender, uniform, cylindrical, often single-shouldered, compact; peduncle almost short, intermediate in size; pedicel short to medium, slender, covered with a few small warts; brush short, wine-colored. Berries variable in size, below medium to small, roundish, black, glossy, covered with a moderate amount of blue bloom, hang well to pedicels, firm. Skin thin, of average toughness, adheres only slightly to the pulp, contains much wine-colored pigment, slightly astringent. Flesh dark green, translucent, fine-grained, somewhat tough, vinous, sweet at skin to tart near seeds, with slight Riparia spiciness, of medium quality, improving as the season advances. Seeds cling to pulp, one to four, average two, often many abortive, above medium size, rather short and wide, usually plump, sharply pointed, brownish; raphe obscure; chalaza above center, pear-shaped, distinct. Must registers 95°-110°.
BAILEY.
(Lincecumii, Labrusca, Vinifera.)
1. Rural N. Y., 50:221, 222. 1891. fig. 2. Bush. Cat., 1894:159. 3. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 14:276. 1895. 4. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:526, 548, 553. 1898. 5. Tex. Sta. Bul., 48:1149, 1153. 1898. fig. 6. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1899:29. 7. Tex. Sta. Bul., 56:275. 1900. 8. Rural N. Y., 60:614. 1901.
In the Bailey are combined characters of three species, Vinifera, Labrusca and Lincecumii—characters attained in three widely separated regions, Europe, Massachusetts, and Texas. Moreover the characters of Vinifera and Labrusca have been transmitted to Bailey through Triumph, in which variety they are as well combined as in any other hybrid of the two species. The Lincecumii parent, Big Berry, is at the head of Munson’s “Big Berry Family” of hybrids; brought in from the wild, it is one of the best representatives of its species. Bailey, therefore, has royal blood and if parentage counts in grapes, it should prove valuable. Unfortunately New York, at least the Station vineyard, is a little too far north for the fruit to mature well. In cold winters the vine is liable to winter injury. In seasons when the grapes have matured the appearance and quality of the fruit have been such as to recommend it. Its vigor of vine and productiveness give it additional value, and if not to be recommended for commercial plantings in this State, it can surely be named as valuable for breeding purposes. The name of the variety was bestowed upon it by its originator in honor of L. H. Bailey, known by all grape-growers for his services to viticulture.
Bailey was originated by Munson from seeds of a wild Post-oak grape called Big Berry, fertilized with pollen of Triumph. The seed was planted in 1887 and the original vine came into fruiting in 1889-90. The variety is now very generally disseminated throughout the East, and the reports of its behavior, in the North at least, generally accord with that from this Station given above.
Vine vigorous, injured in severe winters, produces good crops of fruit. Canes dark reddish-brown, of good length, of medium size and number. Leaves average in size, light green, dull to slightly glossy, with very distinct veins on lower surface which is cobwebby. Flowers open late, fertile; upright stamens.
Fruit ripens unevenly almost as late as Catawba, keeps well. Clusters rather large and long, not very broad, often blunt at ends, cylindrical to irregularly tapering, usually not shouldered but sometimes with a small, short shoulder, compact. Berries persistent, medium to large, vary in shape from roundish to ovate on account of compactness of clusters, change in color from purplish-black to black, covered with a heavy blue bloom. Skin medium to thin, strongly astringent, tough, adheres somewhat to the pulp, contains a large amount of purplish-red pigment. Flesh moderately juicy and tender, coarse, vinous, good in quality, releases the seeds rather easily. Seeds numerous, medium to above in size, moderately broad, above medium to medium length, blunt, brownish; raphe buried in a shallow, narrow groove; chalaza large, above center, circular to oval, distinct.