THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 1 75 



ance to cold, resistance to phylloxera, value for wine-making, freedom from 

 fungi and insects, productiveness, ease of multiplication, and capacity to 

 bear grafts. For the above qualities it offers exceptional opportunities 

 to the plant-breeder. Its most prominent limitations are: Poor quality 

 for table use, inability to withstand dry soils or droughts and non-adapt- 

 ability to soils containing much lime. 



There is no question about the origin of Bacchus. It is a seedling of 

 Clinton which, as mentioned above, it greatly resembles in every character. 

 The variety was originated by J. H. Ricketts of Newburgh, New York, 

 and was first exhibited by him before the American Pomological Society 

 in 1879. It is well known in eastern United States and, as in New York, 

 is highly thought of as a wine grape. 



Vine very vigorous, hardy, healthy, productive. Canes average in length, numer- 

 ous, of medium size, rather light to dark brown with some bloom at nodes which are 

 somewhat enlarged and flattened ; intemodes intermediate in length ; diaphragm below 

 average thickness; pith large to medium; shoots nearly glabrous; tendrils continuous, 

 of mean length, bifid. 



Leaf-buds open early, of average size, rather short, thick, obtuse to conical. Young 

 leaves faintly tinged with carmine on lower side only, prevailing color pale green with 

 faint carmine tinge. Leaves medium to small, thin; upper surface dark green, glossy, 

 smooth ; lower surface dull green, not pubescent ; veins indistinct ; lobes three in num- 

 ber, terminal lobe acuminate; petiolar sinus medium to shallow, narrow sometimes 

 nearly overlapping; basal sinus lacking; lateral sinus shallow, wide; teeth of average 

 depth and width. Flowers open early, sterile ; stamens upright. 



Fruit ripens late and keeps well, hanging a long time on the vine. Clusters small 

 to medium, below average length, rather slender, uniform, cylindrical, often single-shoul- 

 dered, compact; peduncle almost short, intermediate in size; pedicel short to medium, 

 slender, covered with a few small warts; brush short, wine-colored. Berries variable 

 in size, below medium to small, roundish, black, glossy, covered with a moderate amount 

 of blue bloom, hang well to pedicels, firm. Skin thin, of average toughness, adheres 

 only slightly to the pulp, contains much wine-colored pigment, slightly astringent. 

 Flesh dark green, translucent, fine-grained, somewhat tough, vinous, sweet at skin to 

 tart near seeds, with slight Riparia spiciness, of medium quality, improving as the season 

 advances. Seeds cling to pulp, one to four, average two, often many abortive, above 

 medium size, rather short and wide, usually plump, sharply pointed, brownish ; raphe 

 obscure; chalaza above center, pear-shaped, distinct. Must registers 95°-! 10°. 



