246 THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 



DUTCHESS.^ 



(Vinifera, Labrusca, Bourquiniana ? Aestivalis?) 



I. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1877:36. 2. Gar. Moii., 22:176. 18S0. 3. Mass. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 

 1880:230. 4. Downing, 1881:166 app. 5. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1881:24. 6. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 

 1883:124. 7. lb., 1885:103, 107. 8. Kan. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1891:126. 9. Kan. Sta. Bid., 14:87. 

 1890. 10. Ala. Sta. Bid., 10:9. 1890. 11. Gar. and For., 3:512- 1892. 12. Can. Hort., 17:253, 

 267. 1894. 13. Bush. Cat., 1894:117, 118. fig. 14. Husmann, 1895:32, 95, 102. 15. Tenn. Sta. Bui., 

 Vol. 9:176, 195. 1896. 16. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 15:432. 1896. 17. iV. Y.Sta. An. Rpt., 17:529. 

 538, 541, 544, 548, 549, 552. 1898. 18. Miss. Sta. Bui., 56:12. 1899. 19. Mo. Sta. Bui., 46:38, 43, 

 45, 46, 76. 1899. 20. W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 44:91. 1899. 21. Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1900:365. 



Dutchess is a variety for the amateur, always to be sought for because 

 of its delicious flavor, its handsome appearance, and its long-keeping quali- 

 ties. It has never been largely grown in commercial vineyards because the 

 vine is tender to cold and capricious as to soil and other conditions. More- 

 over the berries do not ripen quite evenly and berries and foliage are 

 very susceptible to fungi. In soils to which it is not adapted berries and 

 bunches are small and the latter are loose and straggling. But in spite 

 of its defects Dutchess should not be discarded by the grape-lover for 

 there are few grapes better for the table and that will take its place as 

 a pure-flavored, refreshing, juicy grape. It is sweet and rich and yet does 

 not cloy the appetite; the flesh is translucent, sparkling, fine-grained and 

 tender; the seeds are small, few and part readily from the ptilp; the skin 

 is thin yet tough enough for good keeping but not so much so as to be 

 objectionable in eating. The bunches are large and compact when well 

 grown and the berries, though but medium sized, are attractive because of 

 their translucency, the touch of amber when fully ripe, and the distinctive 

 dots so well shown in the color-plate. Dutchess does not want an 

 extremely rich soil nor close pruning and the bunches should be thinned 

 and as soon as ripe ought to be picked as there is a tendency to crack when 

 overripe or exposed to the wet. Dutchess is self-fertile and therefore 

 desirable where only a few vines are wanted, obviating the trouble of 

 mixed planting for cross-pollination. The clusters are especially fine when 

 bagged. 



' This variety was named after Dutchess County, New York, and the spelling is as given in this 

 te.xt and not " Duchess" as usually spelled. 



