278 THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 



chief lines of horticultural work. Professor E. S. Goff, the first Station 

 horticulturist, began this work as early as 1885 and produced a number 

 of seedling grapes which were numbered but not named. In continuing 

 this work, Professor S. A. Beach, successor to Professor Goff, planted seed 

 from some of the original seedlings and from one of these came a somewhat 

 remarkable grape to which we have given the name Goff. This new variety 

 first bore fruit in 1898 and at once attracted attention. In 1901 it was 

 awarded a silver medal as a meritorious seedlmg at the Pan-American 

 Exposition. Specimens of it sent to several viticultural experts were 

 highly spoken of and in the years it has been in fruit on the Station grounds 

 it has made a most excellent record. 



Unfortunately the pedigree of this grape can never be known. Xot 

 only were the parents of the original seedling unknown, but the immediate 

 parent was open to cross-pollination in a vineyard of many varieties. All 

 who have examined the fruit and vines of Goff are well agreed that the 

 variety shows very distinctly Labrusca and Vinifera characters and some 

 maintain that there are indications of Aestivalis as well. As to the pro- 

 portion of these three species, if all be present, no one would care to hazard 

 a guess. 



The general appearance of Goff is well shown in the accompanying 

 color-plate though the cylindrical shape and enlarged lower end of the 

 bunch are more pronounced than in typical specimens. Because of the 

 peculiar shape of both bunch and berry the fruit cannot be called handsome 

 though the color is sufificiently attractive. The quality of Goff is of the 

 highest, being hardly surpassed by any of the commonly grown grapes of 

 this country. The flavor is sweet, rich and vinous and the pulp, while firm, 

 is tender and readily parts from the seeds. In general the flavor is that of a 

 Labrusca- Vinifera hybrid though there is a spiciness in it that suggests an 

 admixture of Aestivalis; the flesh characters are better than those of the 

 average hybrid of the two first named species, being less pulpy and coarse. 

 Probably the most valuable character of Goff is the long keeping quality of 

 the fruit in which respect it far surpasses the several commercial varieties 

 of this State and equals the best keeping American grapes known. In a 

 test during the winter of 1907-08 of the keeping qualities of 255 varieties 

 of grapes from the Station vineyards, kept in eight-pound baskets in com- 



