342 



THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 



It is a seedling of Concord and resembles its parent greatly, differing from 

 it chiefly in the following particulars: Fruit green, a week or more earlier, 

 bunch and berries smaller, quality far better, being sweeter, more delicate, 

 and with less foxiness and less pulp. About the only difference in the 

 vines is a lighter shade of green in Martha and less robustness, with blos- 

 soms opening a few days earlier than Concord. Martha is often sold 

 in the markets as Niagara, though the resemblance between the two is 

 not strong, the Niagara being larger in bunch and berry and not as high 

 in quality. One of the defects of Martha, and the chief cause of its 

 going out of favor, is that it does not keep nor ship well. A very good 

 white wine is made from Martha. The variety is still being planted in 

 some parts of the South, but is generally abandoned in the North. 



Samuel Miller, then of Calmdale, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, grew 

 Martha from seed of Concord sent him by E. W. Bull. The variety was 

 introduced about 1868 by J. Knox of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. It was 

 placed on the American Pomological Society fruit catalog list in 1869 and 

 dropped from that list in 1899. 



Vine variable in vigor, hardy, intermediate in productiveness, somewhat susceptible 

 to attacks of mildew in unfavorable seasons. Canes medium to long, of average number 

 and size, rather dark reddish-brown, surface covered with thin bloom, slightly roughened; 

 tendrils continuous to intermittent, bifid. Leaves large to medium, rather thick; upper 

 surface light green, intermediate in smoothness; lower surface light bronze, hea\nly 

 pubescent; veins well defined. Flowers self-fertile, open in mid-season; stamens 

 upright. 



Fruit ripens somewhat earlier than Concord, does not keep nor ship well. Clusters 

 medium in size, often below average length, intermediate in width, tapering to cylindri- 

 cal, usually single-shouldered, inclined to be loose. Berries medium in size, roundish, 

 light green with tinge of yellow, covered with thin gray bloom, persistent, medium in 

 firmness. Skin thin, verj' tender, does not usually crack, adheres considerably to the 

 pulp, contains no pigment, with scarcely any astringency. Flesh pale yellowish-green, 

 juicy, moderately tough, fine-grained, slightly foxy, sweet at skin to somewhat tart 

 at center, mild, good to very good in quality but not as good as Lady. Seeds few in 

 number, rather adherent, intermediate in size and length, broad, rather blunt, dark 

 brown; raphe obscure; chalaza small, slightly above center, oval, frequently shows 

 as a mere depression. Must 8s°-9o°. 



