VARIETIES OF GRAPES 385 



absent ; lateral sinus shallow ; teeth shallow. Flowers self-sterile, 

 open in mid-season ; stamens reflexed. 



Fruit mid-season, keeps well. Clusters very large, broad, tapering, 

 one to three clusters per shoot, compact ; brush pale green. Berries 

 very large, round, black, glossy with heavy bloom, firm ; skin ad- 

 herent, astringent ; flesh green, translucent, juicy, very tough, coarse, 

 stringy, foxy ; fair in quality. Seeds adherent, one to five, large, 

 broad, deeply notched, blunt, brow^n. 



Hicks 



(Labrusca) 



Hicks is a remarkably good grape and were it not that the 

 fruit is ahnost identical with that of Concord, ripening with it 

 or a little earlier, it would have a place in the viticulture of the 

 country. However, since it was introduced some years ago and 

 has not found great favor with growers, it seems that it cannot 

 make headway against Concord, with which it must compete. 

 In many localities the vines are more prolific than those of 

 Concord and of stronger growth. Hicks was introduced in 

 1898 by Henry Wallis, Wellston, ^Missouri, who states that it is 

 a chance seedling sent from California about 1870 to Richard 

 Berry, a nurseryman of St. Louis County, ^Missouri. 



Vine very vigorous, hardj% verj^ productive. Canes medium to 

 long, numerous, reddish-brown, covered with thin bloom ; tendrils 

 continuous, bifid or trifid. Leaves large, thick ; upper surface dark 

 green, glossy ; lower surface white, changing to a heavy bronze, 

 strongly pubescent. Flowers self-fertile, open early ; stamens upright. 



Fruit mid-season, keeps well. Clusters large, long, broad, taper- 

 ing, often single-shouldered. Berries large, round, purplish-black with 

 heavy ])loom, shatter when overripe, firm ; skin tender with dark wini-- 

 colored pigment; flesh green, juicy, tough, fine-grained, faintly foxy; 

 good. Seeds adherent, large, short, broad, blunt, brown. 



HlDALC.O 



(Vinifera, Labrusca, Bourquin^na) 



The grapes of Hidalgo are rich, sweet, delicately flavored, 

 and with color, size and form of berry and bunch so well com- 

 2c 



