384 THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 



one of the sterling green varieties. It is wholly unsuited for commercial 

 vineyards and for years has gradually been disappearing from cultivation. 

 The fruit of Rebecca is exceptionall}' fine, consisting of well-formed bunches 

 and berries, the latter a handsome yellowish-white and semitransparent. 

 In quality it is of the best, with a rich, sweet flavor and pleasing aroma. 

 But the vine characters condemn it for any but the amateur and even in 

 the garden it must have exceptionally good care to succeed. The vines 

 lack in hardiness and vigor, are susceptible to mildew and other fungi, 

 and are productive only under the best conditions. It is recommended 

 as being especially desirable to plant on south walls where it seems to 

 succeed much better than in exposed situations. 



The original vine of this variety was an accidental seedling found in 

 the garden of E. M. Peake at Hudson, New York. It bore its first fruit 

 in 1852 when the vine was four years old and was brought to the notice 

 of the public four or five years later. The Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society awarded the variety their silver medal in 1856 and it was exhib- 

 ited before the American Pomological Society the same year. Here it 

 made so favorable an impression that it was placed with Concord and 

 Delaware under "new varieties which promise well." In 1862 it was placed 

 on the regular list where it remained till 1891, when it was removed. It 

 was introduced by W. Brooksbank of Hudson. 



Vine weak to vigorous, not always hardy, not productive, somewhat susceptible to 

 attacks of mildew. Canes long to below medium, numerous, above medium to slender, 

 inclined to dull brown, deepening in color at the nodes; tendrils continuous to inter- 

 mittent, bifid to trifid. Leaves variable in size, of average thickness; upper surface 

 dark green, dull, medium to rugose ; lower surface grayish-green, pubescent ; veins variable 

 in distinctness. Flowers fertile or nearly so; stamens upright. 



Fruit ripens with Concord or later, ships and keeps well. Clusters medium to 

 small, medium to short, of average width, cylindrical to roundish, rarely with a small 

 single shoulder, compact. Berries intermediate in size, oval, green with yellowish tinge 

 sometimes verging on amber, not glossy, covered with thin gray bloom, persistent. 

 firm. Skin intermediate in thickness and toughness, contains no pigment. Flesh pale 

 green, very juicy, tender, nearly melting, vinous and a little foxy, sweet from skin to 

 center, good to very good in quality. Seeds separate easily from the pulp, medium to 

 below in size, medium to short, above medium to narrow, blunt, medium brown; raphe 

 obscure; chalaza of average size, above center, circular to oval, not distinct. Must 69°. 



