212 THE GRAPES OF XEW YORK. 



Vine medium to vigorous, not always hardy, not productive. Tendrils continuous, 

 mostly trifid. Leaves large, irregularly roundish, dark green; lower surface tinged with 

 bronze. Flowers semi-fertile to nearly fertile, open in mid-season or earlier ; stamens 

 upright. Fruit ripens in mid-season or a few days earlier. Clusters medium to large, 

 rather broad, sometimes single-shouldered, intermediate in compactness. Berries unusu- 

 ally large, roundish to slightly oval, dark purplish-black, covered with abundant blue 

 bloom, shatter badly. Skin thin, very astringent. Flesh rather tough, vinous, sweet 

 at skin to acid at center, good to very good in quality. The pulp separates readily 

 from the few broad and plump seeds. 



CLEVENER. 



(Labrusca, Riparia, Aestivalis?) 



I. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 10:494. iSgi. 2. lb., 11:618. 1892. 3. Rural X . Y.. 52:381. 1893. 

 4. Bush. Cat., 1894:103. 5. N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:528, 548, 554. 189S. 



There are tvi^G Cleveners discussed in American viticultural literature, 

 the origin and history of both of which are briefly set forth below. In 

 these general observations we need to consider but the northern one of 

 the two grapes. This variety has long been grown in New Jersey and in 

 New York and in both States is highly esteemed as a wine grape, the result- 

 ing wine being well flavored and of a dark inky-red color. The fruit is 

 remarkable in coloring very early and in ripening very late. The vine is 

 hardy, very vigorous, succeeds in various soils and since it bears grafts 

 well it seems an excellent sort upon which to graft varieties which do not 

 thrive on their own roots. It is self-sterile and must be planted with some 

 other variety to set fruit well. Clinton makes an excellent pollenizer 

 because it blooms at the same time, and because two wine grapes may be 

 thus grown together. In spite of its good qualities, Clevener is hardly 

 holding its own in the commercial vineyards of the State and it is not a 

 desirable fruit for the amateur who wants a table grape. 



The Clevener here described has been raised in the vicinity of Egg 

 Harbor, New Jersey, for about forty years, but its place and time of origin 

 are unknown. It is generally considered to be a Riparia but the con- 

 tinuous tendrils and other botanical characters indicate a strong admixture 

 of Labrusca blood and possibly Aestivalis or Bicolor as the shoots and canes 

 show considerable bloom. 



The other variety under the name Clevener is a southern grape strongly 

 resembling Rulander or Louisiana. Opinions differ as to whether it be of 



