388 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



HOSFORD 



(Labrusca) 



Hosford is an offspring of Concord, differing from the parent 

 chiefly in the greater size of bunch and berry and in being less 

 fruitful. The variety is surpassed by Worden and Eaton, of 

 the same type, and is probably not worth cultivation. It is 

 claimed by some that Hosford is identical with Eaton but there 

 are noticeable differences in both vine and fruit characters. 

 The vine looks very like that of Concord except that the inden- 

 tations along the margins of the leaves are deeper. Hosford 

 originated in the garden of George Hosford, Ionia, ^Michigan, 

 about 1876, as a chance seedling growing between two Con- 

 cord vines. 



Vines lacking in vigor, hardy, unproductive. Canes short, few 

 in number, slender ; nodes enlarged ; internodes very short ; tendrils 

 continuous, bifid or trifid. Leaves medium in size; upper surface 

 light green, rugose ; lower surface grayish-white to bronze, heavily 

 pubescent ; lobes faint ; petiolar sinus wide ; teeth small, sharp. 

 Flowers shallow, semi-fertile, open in mid-season ; stamens upright. 



Fruit mid-season, does not keep well. Clusters large, tapering, 

 slightly shouldered, compact ; pedicel short with small warts ; brush 

 slender, green. Berries large, round-oval, dull black with abundant 

 bloom, persistent ; skin thick, tender ; flesh pale green, juicy, fine- 

 grained, tender, vinous, sweet ; good. Seeds few, large, broad, blunt, 

 plump, brown. 



Hybrid Franc 



(Vinifera, Rupestris) 



Hybrid Franc is the best-known cross between Rupestris 

 and Vinifera. It is one of the few varieties used in Europe 

 as a resistant stock now recommended for a direct producer. 

 The vines are hardy, vigorous and wry proihictive. The fruit 

 is fit only for wine or grape-juice, being too acid to eat out of 

 hand. The coloring matter in the fruit is verv intense and 



