Leaf-buds of medium size, short, rather thick, obtuse to conical, open in mid-season. Young leaves strongly tinged on lower side and along margin of upper side with carmine, making the prevailing color rose carmine. Leaves medium to large, intermediate in thickness; upper surface dark green, dull, rugose; lower surface dull gray often with trace of bronze, slightly downy; veins indistinct; lobes usually three, often obscurely five, terminal lobe acute; petiolar sinus deep to medium, of average width; teeth of fair depth, shallow. Flowers fertile, open medium early; stamens upright.
Fruit ripens early, three weeks or more before Concord and about a week before Hartford, ships well but does not keep well, as its season is very short. Clusters medium to small, of mean length and breadth, blunt, cylindrical to slightly tapering, usually not shouldered, medium to compact; peduncle short, rather thick; pedicel inclined to short, covered with small inconspicuous warts; brush whitish tinged with brown. Berries medium to above in size, roundish, dull black covered with a moderate amount of blue bloom, not always persistent, somewhat soft. Skin thick, tender, adheres considerably to the pulp, contains a fair amount of light purplish pigment, astringent. Flesh light green, translucent, juicy, fine-grained, tender, foxy, rather sweet next the skin, agreeably tart at center, poor in quality. Seeds slightly adherent, one to five, average three, large, somewhat broad and long, blunt, light brown; raphe obscure; chalaza of fair size, slightly above center, circular, obscure.
CHAUTAUQUA.
(Labrusca.)
1. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 11:618. 1892. 2. Ib., 13:602. 1894. 3. Bush. Cat., 1894:102. 4. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:528, 548, 554. 1898.
In appearance Chautauqua is very similar to Concord, its parent, but it ripens a few days earlier and is of slightly better quality though it does not differ in these respects sufficiently to make it more than an easily recognized strain of Concord. Inasmuch as it originated, and for fifteen years has been known, in the region where the Concord reigns supreme, and has not yet come into prominence, it is fair to assume that it has some weakness and that the parent will remain dominant.
Chautauqua is a volunteer seedling of Concord found in a Concord vineyard near Brocton, Chautauqua County, New York, by H. T. Bashtite who sent vines of it to this Station in 1892.
Vine medium to vigorous, not always hardy, not productive. Tendrils continuous, mostly trifid. Leaves large, irregularly roundish, dark green; lower surface tinged with bronze. Flowers semi-fertile to nearly fertile, open in mid-season or earlier; stamens upright. Fruit ripens in mid-season or a few days earlier. Clusters medium to large, rather broad, sometimes single-shouldered, intermediate in compactness. Berries unusually large, roundish to slightly oval, dark purplish-black, covered with abundant blue bloom, shatter badly. Skin thin, very astringent. Flesh rather tough, vinous, sweet at skin to acid at center, good to very good in quality. The pulp separates readily from the few broad and plump seeds.
CLEVENER.
(Labrusca, Riparia, Aestivalis?)
1. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 10:494. 1891. 2. Ib., 11:618. 1892. 3. Rural N. Y., 52:381. 1893. 4. Bush. Cat., 1894:103. 5. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:528, 548, 554. 1898.
There are two Cleveners discussed in American viticultural literature, the origin and history of both of which are briefly set forth below. In these general observations we need to consider but the northern one of the two grapes. This variety has long been grown in New Jersey and in New York and in both States is highly esteemed as a wine grape, the resulting wine being well flavored and of a dark inky-red color. The fruit is remarkable in coloring very early and in ripening very late. The vine is hardy, very vigorous, succeeds in various soils and since it bears grafts well it seems an excellent sort upon which to graft varieties which do not thrive on their own roots. It is self-sterile and must be planted with some other variety to set fruit well. Clinton makes an excellent pollenizer because it blooms at the same time, and because two wine grapes may be thus grown together. In spite of its good qualities, Clevener is hardly holding its own in the commercial vineyards of the State and it is not a desirable fruit for the amateur who wants a table grape.