424 THE GRAPES OF XEW YORK. 



susceptible to mildew, as healthy as any of the hybrids of Labrusca and 

 Vinifera. Wilder is not as well known in the markets as it should be, and 

 now that fungal diseases can be controlled by spraying, this, with other 

 such hj'brids, should be more generally planted in commercial vineyards 

 and especially for local and special markets. The wine from this, and for 

 tliat matter from any of Rogers' grapes, is not of quality such as recom- 

 mends it and neither are the grapes suitable for grape juice. Surplus fruit 

 would often, therefore, be a loss in large plantations. 



Wilder is one of the forty-five Labrusca- Vinifera hvbrids raised by E. S. 

 Rogers of Salem, Massachusetts. For an account of its origin and parent- 

 age, see Rogers' Hybrids. The first notes as to the qualities of this 

 variety were published in 1858. The variety was placed on the Ameri- 

 can Pomological Society list of recommended sorts in 1867 and has never 

 Ijeen removed. In 1869, Rogers expressing a desire to name one of his 

 seedlings after Marshall P. Wilder, Mr. Wilder selected this one as in his 

 estimation the best of all Rogers" hvbrids and it was given his name. 



Vine medium to very vigorous, hardy, productive, somewhat susceptible to attacks 

 of mildew. Canes long, moderately numerous, often below average thickness, ash-gray 

 to dark reddish-brown with darker tinge at the nodes which are usually not flattened; 

 internodes long; diaphragm of average thickness; pith intermediate in size; shoots 

 thinly pubescent: tendrils intermittent, medium in length, bifid to trifid. 



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

 Young leaves tinged on lower side and along margin of upper side with rose-carmine. 

 Leaves large, often irregularly roundish, of average thickness; upper surface dark green, 

 glossy, smooth; lower surface pale green, pubescent; veins distinct; usually not lobed 

 with terminus acute to obtuse; petiolar sinus deep, narrow, often closed and over- 

 lapping; basal sinus lacking; lateral sinus shallow, narrow, or a mere notch when present. 

 Flowers sterile, open mid-season or earlier; stamens reflexed. 



Fruit ripens with Concord or earlier, keeps and ships fairly well. Clusters variable 

 in size but are not large, short and broad, irregularly tapering, heavily single-shouldered, 

 sometimes double-shouldered, loose: peduncle of average length, thick; pedicel long, 

 thick, covered with numerous, prominent warts; bnish of fair length, thick, green with 

 tinge of light red. Berries large, slightly oval, purplish-black to black, not glossy, cov- 

 ered with heavy blue bloom, persistent, finn. Skin thick, variable in toughness, adheres 

 somewhat to the pulp, with bright red pigment, astringent. Flesh greenish, trans- 

 lucent, juicy, tender, has some Vinifera sprightliness, sweet at skin to tart at the seeds, 



