262 THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 



In particular the clusters are small in some localities, a defect which can be 

 overcome only by severe pruning or by thinning. The quality is very 

 good, much better than Niagara, somewhat better than Pocklington and 

 nearly as good as Diamond. It approaches the flavor of the Old World 

 grapes, its slight wild taste suggesting one of the Muscats rather than the 

 foxiness of the Niagara. Empire State is esteemed for the table wherever 

 known and is in demand for wine-making, the wine from it being most 

 excellent for champagne according to reports from the Keuka champagne- 

 makers. Empire State ripens a little earlier than Niagara, hangs long upon 

 the vine and keeps well after picking and without losing flavor. The 

 variety is quite distinct in its horticultural as well as its botanical characters. 

 This somewhat remarkable white grape was originated by James H. 

 Ricketts of Newburgh, New York. The variety was fruited for the first 

 time in 1879. The originator says that it came from seed of Hartford 

 pollinated by Clinton but this parentage has been questioned by many 

 viticulturists as it does not show characters of either of the reputed parents. 

 A very general supposition is that the variety is a hybrid between Clinton 

 and some variety of Vinifera, the characters of the fruit in particular indi- 

 cating such breeding. Empire State was bought from the originator by 

 George A. Stone of Rochester for $4,000, a record price for an American 

 grape. It was introduced about 1884 and was placed on the grape list of the 

 American Pomological Society fruit catalog in 1889, where it still remains. 



Vine a fair to good grower, usually healthy, in some locations appears somewhat 

 tender, moderately productive to productive. Canes short, medium to few, nearly slender, 

 brownish; nodes slightly enlarged, not flattened; intemodes short to medium; diaphragm 

 of average thickness; pith of medium size; shoots pubescent; tendrils intermittent, 

 intermediate in length, bifid. 



Leaf-buds small to medium, of average length, rather slender, pointed to conical, 

 open moderately late. Young leaves tinged with faint trace of red on under side, pre- 

 vailing color greenish. Leaves small to medium, of fair thickness; upper surface light 

 green, slightly glossy, smooth to somewhat rugose; lower surface tinged with bronze, 

 heavily pubescent; veins distinct; lobes three to five when present, with terminal lobe 

 acuminate; petiolar sinus medium to deep, narrow, often closed and overlapping; basal 

 sinus variable in depth and width ; lateral sinus deep, narrow to medium, often distinctly 

 enlarged at base; teeth medium to deep, above average width. Flowers fertile, open 

 moderately late; stamens upright. 



