TH1£ GRAPES OF NEW YUKK. 393 



ROMMEL. 



(Labrusca, Riparia, Vinifcra.) 



I. .4fi. Hort., 1889:101. 2. /j. Ilort. Soi. Rpt.. 1890:117. 3. .V. V. Sla. An. Rpt., 13:60^. 

 iSg4. 4. Bush. Cat., 1894:174. /ig. 5. Husmann, 1895:125. 6. /v<j»i. Sta. But.. 73:182. 1807. 

 7. .V. v. Sta. An. Rpt., 17:535. 54S, 556. i8g8. 8. Tex. Sta. Bui., 48:1151, 1162. iSqS. fit;. 

 9. Mo. Sta. Bui., 46:41, 42, 44, 45. 53. ?(>• 1890. lo. .4m. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1899:51. 11. Ti:r. 

 Sta. Bui., 56:271, 280. iqoo. 



Rommel is rarely found under cultivation in Xew York, lacking some- 

 what in robustness, hardiness and productiveness, and being \'er\- susceptible 

 to the leaf-hopper. The variety comes from Munson of Denison, Texas, 

 and is seemingh- too far removed from the warm climate in which it origi- 

 nated to be profitable in New York. Besides the defects named above, 

 it does not attain its natural high quality in this latitude and the grapes 

 crack badly as they ripen. The bunch and berry are attractive in form, 

 size and color as shown in the color-plate, though the illustration does not 

 do justice to the size of the bunch, the season of 1908, in which the fruit 

 was produced, having been cold and wet and therefore very unfavorable 

 to this variety. At its best, Rommel is a ver\- good table grape and the 

 authorities say makes a very fine white wine. The variety is of interest 

 to the student of grapes from the standpoint of its breeding, having very 

 largely the vine characters of its maternal parent, Elvira, with somewhat 

 better fruit. The name commemorates the service to viticulture of Jacob 

 Rommel of Morrison, Missouri. 



T. V. Munson originated Rommel in 1885 and introduced it in 1889. 

 The parents are Elvira pollinated by Triumph. Rommel was placed on the 

 grape list of the American Pomological Society fniit catalog in 1899. 



Vine medium to vigorous, not always hardy, medium to productive, susceptible to 

 injur>- by leaf-hoppers. Canes medium to long, moderately numerous, thick to medium, 

 light to dark reddish-brown, surface somewhat rough; nodes enlarged, (iften flattened; 

 intcTiodes medium to short; diaphragm thick or nearly so; pith medium to large; shoots 

 slightly glabrous; tendrils intennittent, medium to long, bifid to trifid. 



Leaf-buds intermediate in size and thickness, short to medium, prominent, obtuse 

 to conical, open very late. Young leaves tinged on under side and along margin of 

 upper side with light rose-cannine. Leaves medium to above in size, roundish, thick; 

 upper surface light green, dull, rugose; lower surface pale green, nearly free from pubes- 



