THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 407 



green, not very juicy, tough and solid, slightly aromatic and spicy, almost sweet, fair 

 to good in quality. Seeds adhere somewhat to the pulp, numerous, medium to small, 

 intermediate in length and width, plump; raphe shows as a distinct cord; chalaza dis- 

 tinctly above center to nearly central. 



SUPERB. 



(Labrusca, Vinifera, Aestivalis.) 



I. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., i8gi:i26. 2. Mo. Ilorl. Soc. Rpl., 1891:126. 3. Rural N. V'., 52:636. 

 1893. fig. 4. Bush. Cat., 1894:180. 5. Ilusmann. 1895:38. 6. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpl., 18:396. 

 1899. 7. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1899:28. 8. Ga. Sta. Bui., 53:49. 1901. 



The quality of Superb ranges from good to very good but the appear- 

 ance of the fruit is against the variet}'. It resembles Etimelan, the reputed 

 I^arent, in size, shape, and color but is not as attractive. The vine on the 

 Station grounds is not such as to recommend it highly, and since it has 

 been known for at least twenty years without having become at all popular 

 with grape-growers, it may l^e assumed that the grape has weaknesses 

 elsewhere as well as here. 



A. F. Rice of Griswoldville, Georgia, originated this variety, it is said, 

 from seed of Eumelan. The seed was planted in 1880 near South Wey- 

 mouth, Massachusetts. Superb was placed on the grape list of the Amer- 

 ican Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1899. 



Vine medium to vigorous, usually hardy, healthy, productive. Canes short to 

 medium, few in number, often tapering, ash-gray changing to light or dark brown; 

 tendrils continuous, bifid. Leaves healthy, medium to large, moderately light green; 

 lower surface grayish-green, thinly pubescent, the pubescence being distributed in flecks. 

 Flowers strongly self-fertile, open in mid-season or later; stamens upright. Fruit ripens 

 before Concord, keeps and ships well. Clusters intermediate in size and width, medium 

 to long, frequently with a long, loose single shoulder, compact. Berries medium to 

 below in size, roundish to oval, dark purplish-black covered with thin blue bloom, per- 

 sistent, not very firm. Skin thick, tough, without astringency. Flesh juicy, tender, 

 aromatic, sweet from skin to center, spicy, good to very good in quality. Seeds sepa- 

 rate readily from the pulp, medium to small, medium to long, sharp-pointed; raphe 

 occasionally shows as a partially submerged cord in a broad groove; chalaza distinctly 

 above center. 



