THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 1 87 



berry are large, well formed, and uniform. 2nd. The fruits have a higher 

 sugar and solid content than most American grapes and keep better, shijj 

 better, make better wine and will make raisins. 3d. The flavor, to most 

 palates, is richer, more delicate, and lacks the acidity of some American 

 grapes and the foxiness of others. 4th. The pulp and skin of Black 

 Hamburg are more tender than the varieties of the species of this countrv 

 and the seeds are readily separated from the pulp. 5th. The berries do not 

 shell from the stem readily. 6th. The vines are more compact in habit, 

 make a shorter and stouter annual growth, and hence require less pruning 

 and training. 7th. The fruit is borne in greater quantity, vine for vine 

 or acre for acre. Added to the above qualities which make it desirable as 

 a parent when crosses are made between the grapes of this countrv and 

 Vitis vinifera, are comparative hardiness among its kind, a short seasonal 

 cycle of vegetation giving early maturity to frviit, abilitj- to stand more 

 hardships than most of its species, and especially ability to mature its 

 fniit with as small amount of solar heat as any of its species. Its weak- 

 nesses when planted out of doors in eastern America are those of its species, 

 which wholly prevent its successful cultivation in the vinevards of this 

 region and make it of interest and value only in breeding and as an ideal 

 toward which to breed. 



The origin of Black Hamburg is apparently unknown. It was sent 

 from Hamburg, Germany, to England sometime in the earlv part of the 

 eighteenth century and it was in the latter countr\- that it was given the 

 several variations of the name Haml:)urg. In the north of Europe it is 

 known as Frankendale or Frankenthal. Black Hamburg is grown in 

 Europe chiefly as a forcing grape. It is doubtful if all the synonyms refer 

 to one seed variety, but if not the same, they are so similar as to be difficult 

 if not impossible to distinguish from each other. 



Vine vigorous, tender, productive. Canes long, numerous, rather thick to medium, 

 light brown but darker at nodes, covered with faint pubescence; nodes enlarged, slightly 

 flattened; intemodes short to medium; diaphragm thick; pith large; shoots slightly 

 pubescent; tendrils intermittent, frequently several nodes with no tendrils, long, bifid 

 to trifid, dehisce early. 



Leaf-buds large to medium, rather long, somewhat thick, conical to obtuse. Leaves 

 good size, thin; upper surface light green, rather dull, of average smoothness; lower 

 surface slightly lighter than upper surface, with small amount of pubescence, hairy; 



