THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 165 



single shoulder, medium to compact. Berries above medium to small, roundish 

 although frequently strongly compressed on account of compactness of cluster, rather 

 dull, pale red, somewhat lighter than Catawba, covered with thin lilac bloom, persistent. 

 Skin very thick. Flesh tender, vinous, somewhat foxy, sweet at skin to agreeably 

 tart at center, good in quality, resembling Diana or Catawba. The seeds, which are 

 few in number, often show a rough granular, warty surface around the chalaza. 



ALLEN'S HYBRID. 



(Labrusca, Vinifera.) 



I. Mag. Hort., 20:474. 1854. 2. lb.. 21:182. 1855. 3. Essex In.tt. Proc. 1:195. '856. 4. 

 A/jg. Hort., 26:66. i860. 5. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1862:90. 6. Strong, 1866:330. 7. Mead, 1867: 

 176, 187, IQ4. fii;. 8. Ga. Sta. An. Rpt., 13:320. 1900. 9. Ga. Sta. BitL, 53:40. 1901. 



A half century ago Allen's Hybrid was the vine of promise in America. 

 It was the first named hybrid between Vitis labrusca and Vitis vinifera 

 to be disseminated and as such awakened the slumbering hopes of the 

 horticulturists of a continent. American grape-growers had all but given 

 up the expectation of ever growing the European grape in the New World 

 when Allen announced this hybrid. Auspicious hope! Grape-growers 

 everywhere hybridized grapes and the growing of the vine received an 

 impetus surpassed only by that of the introduction of the Concord. Botan- 

 ists and horticulturists had doubted the possibility and the practicability 

 of crossing the Old World grape with the New World species, when this 

 variety removed the doubt and led them to hope that we were to have 

 varieties of grapes in America possessing many of the coveted characters 

 of the grapes of Europe. 



After its introduction the variety was tested wherever grapes were 

 grown in the United States and Canada, — and for a generation. Its high 

 quality, entirely free from what was then considered objectionable foxi- 

 ness, handsome appearance, with some other qualities of its Vinifera par- 

 ent, at first indicated that it was a most valuable acquisition; but it soon 

 developed the tenderness of v^ine and susceptibility to fungi and insects 

 which have come to be the distinguishing marks of the primary hybrids 

 of native species and the European grape. Its cultivation has long since 

 ceased and it has now a place only in the history of American grape-growing. 

 It has been one of the parents of a number of other grapes, chief of which 

 is Lady Washington, produced from a cross between Allen's Hybrid and 



