2l8 THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 



inclined to slender, nearly smooth; brush of average length, green. Berries usually 

 below Niagara in size but somewhat variable, roundish to slightly oval, light green, 

 slightly glossy, covered with thin gray bloom, usually rather persistent. Skin unusually 

 thin, tender, adheres to pulp, contains no pigment, slightly astringent. Flesh pale green, 

 translucent, juicy, fine-grained, tender and soft when fully ripe, somewhat foxy, vinous, 

 sweet, good in quality. Seeds separate easily from the pulp, few in number, usually 

 one to three, averaging two, rather small and broad, notched, short to medium, nearly 

 plump, brownish; raphe obscure; chalaza of average size, slightly above center, circular 

 to nearly oval, showing only as a depression. 



COLUMBIAN IMPERIAL. 



(Labrusca, Riparia.) 



I. Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1893-4:30. 2. Bush. Cat., 1894:105. 3. Ohio Hort. Soc. Rpt.. 1894-5: 

 67, 70. 4. X. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 18:374. 387, 395. iSgq. 5. Mo. Sta. Bui.. 46:38, 43, 44, 45, 49. 

 iSqg. 6. Mich. Sta. Bid., 169:166, 169. 1899. 7. Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1899:57. 8. Ga. Sta. Bid., 

 53:42. 1901. 



Columbian (3, 6). Imperial (3). Jumbo (i). Jumbo (2, 3). 



Columbian Imperial is a showy, reddish-black, Labrusca-Riparia 

 hybrid chiefly remarkable for the great size of its berries; though the vine 

 is so exceptionally healthy and vigorous as to give it prominence for these 

 characters. The variety has remarkably thick, leathery leaves which seem 

 almost proof against either insects or fungi. The qvtality of the fruit, how- 

 ever, is very inferior and the clusters are uneven as to the number of 

 berries and these shell off readily. The onh- possible value of the variety 

 is for exhibition purposes and for breeding to secure the desirable charac- 

 ters named above. Columbian Imperial is a frequent adornment of the 

 salesbook of the fruit tree agents and the panegyrics heaped upon it by 

 misinformed or unscrupulous salesmen have given it a rather wide distribu- 

 tion in the gardens of the amateur where it has no place whatever. 



The parentage of Columbian Imperial is unknown. The fruit was 

 originated by J. vS. McKinley, Morgan, Orient P. O., Ohio, in 18S5. It was 

 introdiiced l)y the Columbian Grape Company', of Kingston, Ohio, under 

 the name Columbian, also by J. R. Johnson of Dallas, Texas, under the 

 name Columbian Imperial. Supposed b}' many to be of Labrusca-Riparia 

 blood. The Labrusca shows plainly; the Riparia little, if at all. 



Vine vigorous to very vigorous, healthy, hardy, variable in productiveness. Canes 

 long, numerous, thick to medium, dark reddish-brown, unusually hca\-ily pubescent 

 and spiny; tendrils continuous, long, bifid. 



