THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 417 



its introduction. One of the most valuable attributes of Vergennes is that 

 it seldom fails to bear a crop though it has a tendency to overbear which 

 causes it to be variable in size of fruits and in time of ripening; with a 

 moderate crop it ripens with Concord but with a heavy load of grapes the crop 

 matures from one to two weeks later. Vergennes is somewhat unpopular 

 with vineyardists because of the sprawling habit of the vine making a vine- 

 yard of this grape untractable for vineyard operations. This fault is 

 obviated somewhat by grafting it on other vines. In some of the grape 

 regions of New York the vines are precariously hardy though tenderness to 

 cold can hardly be said to be a serious fault of the variety. 



The appearance of the fruit is attractive and while the qualitv is not 

 high, yet it is good; the flavor is agreeable, the flesh is tender and seeds and 

 skin are not objectionable. Considering all of its fruit characters, Vergennes 

 may be said to l)e more than an ordinary grape — much 1 setter than several 

 better known commercial varieties. The varietj' is somewhat remarkable 

 in being probabh- the best shipper and the best keeper among the pure 

 Labrusca varieties. Nearl\- all of the grapes which ship and keep well 

 have more or less Vinifera blood, but if Vergennes has any foreign blood 

 it shows it only in its keeping and shipping qualities. At present Vergennes 

 is the standard late-keeping grape for this region being very commonly 

 found in the markets as late as Januar}- and sometimes February. A 

 number of seedlings of Vergennes, pure-bred and cross-bred, growing on 

 the Station grounds, show that this variety transmits its characters well 

 to its offspring indicating that it has value for grape-breeding. Vergennes 

 may be recommended for its intrinsic value for the vineyard and the garden 

 and to the experimenter as one of the best pure Labruscas for the production 

 of new and improved varieties. 



The original vine of this variety was a chance seedling found in the 

 garden of William E. Greene, Vergennes, Vermont. It fruited for the 

 first time in 1874. It was placed on the list of sorts recommended by the 

 American Pomological Society in 1883 and is still retained. 



Vine variable in vigor, not always hardy, medium to verj- productive depending 

 upon amount of winter injury, usually healthy. Canes long to medium, intermediate 

 in number and size, dark dull brown; nodes enlarged, strongly flattened; internodes 

 27 



