New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 453 



season; leaves rather large, dark green; flowers sterile, open in mid-season. Fruit 

 ripens a little earlier than Concord, keeps fairly well: clusters intermediate in size 

 and length, frequently single-shouldered, compact; berries large to medium, oval, 

 dull black, covered with abundant bloom, persistent, firm; flesh tender, juicy, sweet 

 next to the skin, agreeably tart at the center; resembles Concord c'osely in flavor; 

 good in quality; seeds separate very easily from the pulp, average two or three, of 

 medium size. 



Secretary is an old grape now scarcely grown but one which we 

 never lose an opportunity of recommending and shall continue 

 to recommend until it is found in the vineyards of not only amateurs 

 but of some commercial growers in New York. Few grapes have 

 more good characters to commend it: thus, it is of exceptionally 

 high quality; the berries are firm, meaty and yet juicy, fine-grained 

 and tender, with a sweet, spicy, vinous flavor; the bunches are 

 large, well formed, of medium size and composed of purplish-black 

 berries covered with thick bloom which make a most handsome 

 fruit. Unfortunately, the vine characters are not as good as those 

 of the fruit. It lacks a little in hardiness, vigor, productiveness 

 and in health, being injured by mildew and black-rot to a considerable 

 extent. These defects have kept the variety from taking a place 

 of commercial importance in New York, since the grape can be 

 grown well only in favored localities and with somewhat special 

 care. Yet, despite these defects, Secretary has so many good 

 qualities that we strongly recommend its culture to both amateurs 

 and those who are willing to give special attention in producing 

 a fancy market grape. 



Secretary is the result of a cross of Clinton by Muscat Hamburg 

 — the first a native grape, the other a European. The cross was 

 grown by J. H. Ricketts, the noted grape breeder, of Newburgh, 

 New York, as long ago as in 1867. On account of its several 

 weaknesses it has not been popular and is offered for sale by few 

 nurserymen. Vines can be obtained, however, from a number 

 of amateur growers and a stock could rapidly be buiit up, should 

 demand arise for it, as we hope it will. 



Vine a little lacking in vigor, and in hardiness; variable in productiveness, somewhat 

 subject to attacks of fungi; canes short, of medium thickness, light brown but con- 

 spicuously darker at the nodes, the surface covered with thick, blue bloom; leaves 

 small, thin, light green; flowers semi-fertile, open early. Fruit ripens soon after 

 Concord, keeps and ships well; clusters large and long, frequently with a large, single 

 shoulder, variable in compactness but often loose and, unless cross-pollinated, with 

 many abortive fruits; berries large, roundish to oval, somewhat flattened at the 

 point of attachment to the pedicel, dark purplish-black, covered with thick bloom, 

 persistent, firm; flesh juicy, tender, vinous, sweet; of good quality; seeds separate 

 readily from the pulp, large. 



RASPBERRIES 



June has been tested long enough in different parts of New York 

 to fully determine its value. Reports received indicate that it is 

 quite equal and often superior to the best older varieties. It is 



