406 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



ing in having fewer but larger berries, grapes not as high in 

 flavor and fewer and smaller seeds. Because of the thin, tender 

 skin, the berries crack badly. The grapes shell more or less, 

 and the vines are less productive than those of Worden. The 

 faults named debar it from becoming a commercial grape 

 and it is not high enough in quality to make it of value for 

 the amateur. This variety originated with H. G. McPike, 

 Alton, Illinois, from seed of Worden planted in 1890. 



Vine vigorous, hardy, very productive, ('anes of medium length, 

 dull reddish-brown ; nodes enlarged, flattened ; internodes very 

 short; tendrils continuous, bifid or trifid. Leaves large, thick; 

 upper surface light grepn, dull, rugose ; lower surface grayish-white, 

 heavily pubescent; leaf entire with terminus acute; petiolar sinus 

 deep ; basal and lateral sinuses lacking. Howers nearly self-fertile. 



Fruit mid-season, keeps well. Clusters variable in size, broad, 

 irregularly tapering, usually not shouldered ; pedicel long, thick, 

 smooth ; brush long, slender, green with brown tmge. Berries unusu- 

 ally large, round, purplish-black with heavy bloom, firm ; skin cracks, 

 adherent to pulp, astringent ; flesh pale green, translucent, juicy, 

 tender, stringy, vinous ; fair to good. Seeds adherent, one to four, 

 short, broad, blunt, plump, light brown. 



Marion 



(Vulpina, Labrusca) 



Black German, Marion Port 



INIarion so closely resembles Clinton in botanical and horti- 

 cultural characters as to be clearly of the same type. The 

 vine is vigorous and hardy, but hardl\' sufficiently productive, 

 and is susceptible to mildew and leaf-hoppers. The fruit 

 is pleasantly sweet and spicy, although not high enough in 

 quality for a table-grape, ])ut makes a \cvy good dark red wine. 

 The fruit colors early but ripens late, hangs well on the vines 

 and imi)r()\-cs with a touch of frost. INIarion was brought 

 to notice by a INIr. Shepherd, Marion, Ohio, about 1850. 



