THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 



159 



1894. col. pi x8. iV. y. Sta. An. Rpt.. 15:433- 'Sp^- 19. lb., 17:536, 548, S5», 553. 1E98. 20. 

 W. N. Y. Hon. Soc. Rpt.. 1899:91. 21. Mo. Sta. Bui., 46:37, 43, 44, 46, 47, 55. 1899. 



Randall (20).' Rogers' No. 15 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 7, 8, 9). Rogers' No. IB (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15). 



Agawam is the most largely growii of Rogers' hybrids both in the 

 United States and in New York, the qualities commending it being large 

 size of bunch and berry, rich, sweet, aromatic flavor, attractive app)ear- 

 ance, excellent keeping qualities, vigor of vine, and capacity for self-fertili- 

 zation. It has the distinction of being the only self-fertile variety among 

 Rogers' named hybrids. For a grape having its proportion of European 

 parentage the vine is vigorous, hardy and productive, though not equal to 

 many pure-bred American sorts in these respects. In severe winters it is 

 precariously hardy in New York. Its chief defects in fruit are a somewhat 

 thick and tough skin, coarse solid texture of pulp, and, for the European 

 palate, its decidedly foxy flavor. The vine is susceptible to the mildews 

 and in many localities does not yield well. In some markets Agawam is 

 highly esteemed and in making certain wines it is much sought for in blend- 

 ing because of the flavor it imparts. Although it ripens soon after Concord 

 it can be kept much longer and realh' improves in flavor the first few weeks 

 after picking. It may be kept in good condition in common storage until 

 January. Not uncommonly it shrivels on the stem making a raisin. It 

 seems to prefer somewhat heavy soils, doing better on clay than on sand 

 or gravel. The Agawam is often sold in the markets as Salem which it 

 resembles and by w^hich it is surpassed in quality. 



For an account of the parentage and origin of Agawam see '' Rogers' 

 Hybrids " of which this is No. 15. It was first mentioned as a variety about 

 1 86 1. In 1869 Rogers gave the fruit the name Agawam from the Indian 

 name of a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts. It has become one 

 of the most, if not the most, popular of Rogers' hybrids and is in some sec- 

 tions raised to a considerable extent as a market sort. It is propagated and 

 sold to-day by practically all nurserymen. It was placed on the grape 

 list of the American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1867 ^r^d is still 

 retained there. 



Vine vigorous, usually hardy, medium to productive, subject to mildew. Canes 

 of average length, medium in number, rather thick, moderately dark brown; nodes 



' Numbers in parentheses designate authors or publications cited in the list of references. 



