378 THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 



it is much more like a Labrusca than Delaware, suggesting that it is a Dela- 

 ware cross. In the Southwest it is considered a valuable early red grape. 

 Dr. J. Stayman of Leavenworth, Kansas, originated Perfection from 

 seed of Delaware; sent out for testing about 1890. 



Vine medium to vigorous, healthy, injured in severe winters, productive. Canes 

 intermediate in length and number, slender; tendrils intermittent, trifid to bifid. Leaves 

 healthy, medium in size and color; lower surface grayish -white with tinge of bronze, 

 lieavily pubescent. Flowers fertile or nearly so, open in mid-season; stamens upright. 

 Fruit ripens before Delaware, does not keep well. Clusters intermediate in size, aver- 

 aging slightly larger than Delaware, of fair length, usually single-shouldered, compact. 

 Berries medium to small, nearly roundish when not misshapen by compactness of cluster, 

 attractive red but slightly less brilliant than Delaware, covered with thin gray or faint 

 lilac bloom, inclined to drop from pedicel, soft. Skin thin, variable in toughness, not 

 astringent. Flesh medium in juiciness and tenderness, vinous, mild, moderately sweet, 

 good in quality but inferior to Delaware. Seeds adherent to the pulp, quite numerous, 

 below medium to small, of average length, often with slightly enlarged neck. 



PERKINS. 



(Labrusca, Vinifera.) 



I. Horticulturist, 14:246. 1859. 2. Mag. Hort.. 27:523, 532. 1861. 3. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt. 

 1862:147. 4. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat.. 1873:24. 5. III. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1878:8. 6. .4m. Pom. Soc. 

 Rpt., 1883:58. 7. Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1883:40. 8. Neb. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:93. 9. III. Sta. 

 Bui., 28:261. 1893. 10. Bush. Cat., 1894:168, 169. fig. 11. -V. V. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:534, 548, 

 556. 1898. 12. Mich. Sta. Bui., 169:174. 1899. 13. Ala. Sta. Bui, no:6o. 70, 88. 1900. 14. 

 5. C. Sta. Bui. 58:7, 8. 1901. fig. 



Perkins was at one time grown largely as an early grape but has been 

 very generally discarded on account of its poor quality. Its pulp is hard 

 and its flavor is that of Wyoming, Northern Muscadine and their like, all 

 easily identified and best characterized by their disagreeable foxiness. As 

 with nearly all Labruscas it is a very poor keeper. Notwithstanding the 

 faults of its fruit, Perkins may have value in regions where grape-growing 

 is precarious; for it is one of the most reliable grapes cultivated, being 

 hardy, vigorous, productive, and very free from fungal diseases. Added to 

 the above qualities, it is eaily, thus making a plant well worthy the atten- 

 tion of the grape-breeder. 



This variety is said to be an accidental seedling found about 1S30 in 

 tlie garden of Jacob Perkins of Bridgewater, Massachusetts. For many 

 years it had only a local roi)utation and became kno^^Tl to viticulturists 



