352 THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 



Jacob Rommel ' of Morrison, Missouri, produced this variety from 

 seed of Taylor said to have been fertilized with Ives. It was exhibited by 

 Rommel at the American Pomological Society meeting in 1879, where it 

 attracted the attention of Isadore Bush, of Bush & Son & Meissner, who 

 named it Montefiore and introduced it the following year 



Vine medium to vigorous, hardy, an uncertain bearer. Canes long, of average 

 number, thick, dark brown with slight reddish tinge, surface covered with thin 

 blue bloom; nodes enlarged, flattened; intemodes long to medium; diaphragm 

 thick; pith medium to above in size; shoots thinly pubescent; tendrils continuous, long, 

 bifid. 



Leaf-buds of average size, short, thick, conical to obtuse, open in mid-season. Young 

 leaves tinged on under side and along margin of upper side with light brownish-carmine. 

 Leaves intermediate in size, thick to medium; upper surface light green, dull, smooth to 

 medium; lower surface grayish -white, pubescent; veins well defined; lobes three when 

 present with terminus acute to acuminate; petiolar sinus of average depth, medium to 

 wide; basal sinus lacking; lateral sinus very shallow and narrow when present; teeth 

 deep to medium, intermediate in width. Flowers self-sterile to imperfectly self- fertile, 

 open in mid-season; stamens upright. 



Fruit ripens about with Concord or later, keeps well. Clusters medium to small, 

 rather short, of average width, tapering to cylindrical, frequently single-shouldered, 

 the shoulder being connected to the bunch by a long stem, compact ; peduncle medium to 

 short, intermediate in size; pedicel short, slender, nearly smooth; brush of fair length, 

 tinged with red. Berries medium to small, oval to roundish, often compressed, black, 

 glossy, covered with abundant blue bloom, persistent, firm. Skin medium to thin, 

 tough, adheres slightly to the pulp, with wine-colored pigment, astringent. Flesh 

 medium green, translucent, juicy, fine-grained, tender and melting, vinous, sweet to 

 agreeably tart, fair to good in quality. Seeds separate easily from the pulp, one to five, 



' Jacob Rommel was bom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1837. The family moved to Her- 

 mann, Missouri, in 1838 where his father, Jacob Rommel, Sr., engaged in the nursery business and 

 became interested in grape-growing and wine-making. In i860 the younger Rommel removed to 

 Morrison where hi entered into partnership with H. Sobbe to grow nursery stock and cultivate 

 grapes. At this time much dissatisfaction was felt among the grape-growers of the Middle West 

 with the standard varieties then grown, most of which were table grapes secured from the East, 

 and were poorly adapted to wine-making and to Missouri conditions. To remedy this defect Rommel 

 originated many new varieties, using Taylor chiefly as a parent. Among others he produced Amber, 

 Beauty, Black Delaware, Elvira, Etta, Faith. Montefiore, Pearl, Transparent and Wilding. Rommel's 

 seedlings are characterized by e.xtreme vigor and productiveness. They wore not designed for table 

 grapes and they lack the qualities to recommend them as such. In igoo Rommel retired from 

 business and removed to Chamois, Missouri, where he still lives. 



