402 



SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY 



Fig. 232. Concord. 



second character which commends Concord is f ruitfulness ; the 

 vine bears lar«j:e crops year in and year out. Added to these 

 points of superiority are hardiness, ability to 

 withstand the ravages of diseases and in- 

 sects, comparative earliness, certainty of ma- 

 turity in northern regions, and fair size and 

 handsome appearance of bunch and berry. 

 The variety is not, however, without faults: 

 the quality is not high, as the grapes lack 

 richness, delicacy of flavor and aroma, and 

 have a foxy taste disagreeable to many; the 

 seeds and skin are objectionable, as the seeds 

 are large and abundant and difficult to sepa- 

 rate from the flesh, and the skin is tough and unpleasantly as- 

 tringent; the grapes do not keep nor ship well, and rapidh^ lose 

 flavor after ripening; and the skin cracks and the berries shell 

 from the stems after picking. Seeds of a wild grape were planted 

 b}^ E. W. Bull, Concord, Massachusetts, from which plants 

 fruited in 1849. One of these seedlings was named Con- 

 cord. 



Vine vigorous, hardy, healthy, productive. Leaves large, thick; lobes 3 

 when present, terminal one acute; petiolar sinus variable; oasal sinus 

 usually lacking; lateral sinus obscure and frequently notched; teeth shallow, 

 narrow. Flowers self -sterile, open in midseason; stamens upright. Fruit 

 midseason. Clusters uniform, large, wide, broadly tapering, usually single- 

 shouldered, sometimes double-shouldered, compact ; 

 pedicel thick, smooth; brush pale green. Berries 

 large, round, glossy, black, with heavy bloom, firm ; 

 skin tough, adherent with a small amount of wine- 

 colored pigment, astringent ; flesh pale green, translu- 

 cent, juicy, fine-grained, tough, solid, foxy; good. 

 Seeds adherent, 1-4, large, broad, distinctly notched, 

 plump, blunt, brownish. 



618. .Herbert (Fig. 233).— In all that con- 

 stitutes a fine table-grape, the fruits of Her- 

 bert are as near perfection as those of any 

 other American variety. The vine is vigorous, 

 hardy, and fruitful. Wliile the fruit ripens fig. 233. Herbert, 

 with that of Concord, it keeps much later and 

 packs and ships better. The variety is self -sterile and must be set 



