THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 265 



ETTA. 



(Riparia, Labrusca.) 



I. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1881:33. 2. Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1883:43. 3. Bush. Cat.. 1883:98. fig. 

 4. Kan. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:23, app. 5. jV. i'. Sta. An. Rpt., 10:496. 1S91. 6. III. Sta. But., 

 28:263. 1893. 7. Ark. Sta. Bui., 39:30. 1896. 8. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:530, 545, 547, 555, 559. 

 1898. 9. Tex. Sta. Bui., 48:1149, 1156. 1898. 10. Mich. Sta. Bui., 177:44. 1S99. 11. Ga. Sta. 

 Bid., 53:43. 1901. 12. Kan. Sta. Bui., 110:244. 1902. 



Elvira Seedling No. S (3). Rommel's Etta (4, 12). Rommel's No. 3 (i). 



In appearance, taste and texture of flesh Etta is very similar to Elvira 

 of which it is a seedling. The small yellowish clusters which characterize 

 Elvira are almost exactly reproduced in Etta differing chiefly in often 

 having a shoulder quite as large as the main bunch itself, and in hav- 

 ing, for most palates, a better flavor, lacking the slight foxiness of Elvira. 

 The vine is very vigorous, hardy, and productive to a fault. The fruit 

 ripens late, at the time of Catawba, and too late to make the variety 

 of value for New York. Etta is not a good table grape and, as with its 

 parent, makes only a fair grade of white wine but this can be produced in 

 such quantity as to give the variety value in producing a wine for blending 

 with more highly flavored products. 



The tendency of Elvira to crack and overbear caused the originator of 

 that variety, Jacob Rommel of Morrison, Missouri, to try for a grape withotit 

 these faults and the result was Etta from seed of Elvira. It was first 

 exhibited in 1879 as Elvira Seedling No. j and was awarded the premium 

 as a seedling wine grape at the Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society 

 meeting in St. Louis in 1880. It has never become popular in the East, 

 probably on account of its late ripening. In Missouri Etta is generally con- 

 sidered to be, all characters taken into account, a better grape than Elvira, 

 falling below it in but one particular, resistance to black-rot. 



Vine vigorous to very vigorous, hardy except in severe winters, productive. Canes 

 long, rather numerous, about average size, nearly light to medium dark brown; tendrils 

 continuous, bifid. Leaves healthy, above medium to large, thickish ; upper surface 

 dark green, slightly glossy, nearly smooth; lower surface pale green, somewhat cob- 

 webby; veins rather distinct. Flowers fertile or nearly so, open medium early; stamens 

 upright. 



Fruit ripens late, two or three weeks after Concord, keeps fairly well. Clusters 

 medium to small, rather short and broad, irregularly cylindrical, usually with a short. 



