VARIETIES OF GRAPES 407 



to reach maturity, so that it is seldom grown successfully north 

 of the Potomac. The vines are robust, very productive, espe- 

 cially on fertile soils; as free, or more so, from fungal diseases 

 as any other native grape; and very resistant to phylloxera. 

 The bunches are of only medium size and the berries are small. 

 The grapes are pleasant eating when ripe — rich, spicy, and pure- 

 flavored — but tart if not quite ripe. The variety is difficult to 

 propagate from cuttings and to transplant, and the vines do not 

 bear grafts well. Norton has been under cultivation since before 

 1830, when it was first described. 



Vine very vigorous, healthy, half-hardy, productive. Leaves large, irregu- 

 larly round; leaf usually not lobed, Avith terminus acute; petiolar sinus 

 deep, narrow, sometimes closed and overlapping; basal sinus usually absent; 

 lateral sinus shallow or a mere notch. Flowers self -fertile, late; stamens 

 upright. Fruit late. Clusters medium in size, short, broad, tapering, single- 

 shouldered, compact; pedicel slender with a fcAv warts; brush dull, wine- 

 colored. Berries small, round-oblate, black, glossy with heavy bloom, per- 

 sistent, soft; skin thin, free with much dark red pigment; flesh green, 

 translucent, juicy, tender, spicy, tart. Seeds free, 2-6, small, brown. 



626. Clinton came into prominence because of vigor, hardi- 

 ness, fruitfulness, and immunity to phylloxera. A serious defect 

 is that the vines bloom early and in northern climates the 

 blossoms are often caught by late frosts. Other defects are : the 

 fruit is small and sour, and the seeds and skins are prominent. 

 The fruit colors early in the season, but does not ripen until late, 

 a slight touch of frost improving the flavor. Clinton is an old 

 sort, the Worthington, known as early as 1815, renamed; it 

 began to attract attention about 1840. It is now more or less 

 grown in all parts of northeastern United States. 



Vine vigorous, hardy, healthy, productive. Leaves hang until late in the 

 season, small, thin; petiolar sinus deep, narrow, urn-shaped; basal and 

 lateral sinuses shallow; teeth wide. Flowers self -fertile, open early; 

 stamens upright. Fruit midseason. Clusters small, slender, cylindrical, 

 uniform, single-shouldered, compact; pedicel short, very slender, smooth; 

 brush tinged with red. Berries small, round, oval, purplish-black, glossy, 

 covered with thick bloom, adherent, firm ; skin very thin, tough, free from 

 pulp with much wine-colored pigment, astringent; flesh dark green, juicy, 

 fine-grained, tough, solid, spicy, sour, vinous. Seeds adherent, 2, short, 

 blunt, brownish. 



