390 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



red with thin bloom, usually persistent, firm ; skin thick, tough, 

 adherent ; flesh green, tender, aromatic, sweet next the skin, acid at 

 the center ; good to very good. Seeds adherent, large, plump, brown. 



lONA 



(Labrusca, Vinifera) 



In flavor, the fruit of lona (Plate XIX) has a rare combina- 

 tion of sweetness and acidity, pure, delicate and vinous. The 

 flesh is transparent, melting, tender, juicy and of uniform con- 

 sistency quite to the center. The seeds are few and small and 

 part readily from the flesh. The color is a peculiar dark-red 

 wine with a tint of amethyst, variable and not always attrac- 

 tive. The bunch is large but loose, with berries varying in size 

 and ripening unevenly. The fruit may be kept until late winter. 

 The vine characters of lona are not as good as those of the fruit. 

 To do well, the vine must have a soil exactly suited to its wants, 

 seemingly thriving best in deep, dry, sandy or gravelly clays, 

 lona responds especially well when trained against walls or 

 buildings, attaining under such conditions rare perfection. The 

 vines are doubtfully hardy and in many parts of the North 

 must have winter protection ; they are not vigorous and are in- 

 clined to overbear, to remedy which tliey must have close prun- 

 ing. In localities in which mildew and rot thrive, the variety 

 is badly attacked by these diseases. lona originated with 

 C. W. Grant, lona Island, New York, from seed of Diana planted 

 in 1885. 



Vine weak, doubtfully hardy, unproductivp. Canes short, light 

 brown ; nodes enlarged ; internodes short ; tendrils intermittent, 

 bifid. Leaves thick; upper surface light green, dull, smooth; lower 

 surface grayish-green, heavily pubescent; lobes three to five with 

 terminal one acute ; petiolar sinus of medium depth and width ; basal 

 sinus shallow ; lateral sinus shallow, wide ; teeth shallow. Flowers 

 self-fertile, open late ; stamens upright. 



Fruit late, keeps well. Clusters medium in size, sometimes double- 

 shouldered, slender, tapering, loose ; brush pale green. Berries uni- 



