THE GRAPES OF N'EW YORK 395 



Triumph. The seed was planted in 1887 and the resulting variety intro- 

 duced by the originator in the fall of 1894. 



Vine \-igorous, doubtfully hardy, productive, healthy. Canes medium to nearly 

 long, intermediate in number, thick to medium, dark red; intemodes medium to long; 

 tendrils intermittent, bifid. Leaves healthy. Flowers sterile or nearly so, open late; 

 stamens upright. 



Fruit ripens about with Concord, does not keep well. Clusters below medium to 

 small, rather short, often single-shouldered, compact to medium. Berries medium to 

 large, slightly oblate, dull black covered with a medium amount of blue bloom, inclined 

 to shatter considerably, not very firm. Skin thin, variable in toughness, not astringent. 

 Flesh pale green, rather tender when fully ripe, peculiarly vinous, nearly sweet at skin 

 to agreeably tart at center, slightly spicy and with some Post-oak flavor, good in qualit)'. 

 Seeds separate easily from the pulp, rather numerous, intermediate in size, length, and 

 width. Raphe obscure in a verj-^ shallow groove; chalaza slightly above center, oval; 

 obscure. 



SAGE. 



(Labrusca.) 



I. Allen, 1848:134. 2. Horticulturist, 6:575. 1851. lb., 7:87, 108. 1852. 4. V. S. Pal. 

 Off. Rpt., 1853:300, 301. 5. Mag. Hort., 24:91. 1858. 6. U. S. Pat. Off. Rpt., 1859:48, 55, 66. 

 7. I'.S. £>. .4. Rp/., 1864:134. 8. .V. K. .4g.So<r. /?p/., 1865:337. fig. 9.(?) Sm5/i. Ca/., 1894:151. 



Mammoth (7, 8). 'Mammoth Sage (q). Sage (7. 8). Globe (8). 



This variety, which is variously known under the names Sage, Mammoth 

 Sage, Mammoth, and Globe, is of interest because it represents a tvpe of 

 large-fruited, early-ripening Labruscas which have been used frequently 

 by breeders as the native parent in a Vinifera cross. A variet\- similar to 

 this was used in particular b>' E. S. Rogers as the mother plant in making 

 his notable crosses. They have also been used by White and others. 



The original vine was a chance seedling found by Henry E. Sage about 

 181 1 on the banks of a small stream near Portland, Connecticut. The 

 variety was first brought to public notice by John Fiske Allen in 1848 

 through a \-ery laudator}- description which was much criticised by those 

 who objected to the foxy aroma of the Sage but as warmly defended h\ 

 others who liked the foxiness. The variety was later advertised and sent 

 out by the Shaker community at Harvard, Worcester County, Massa- 

 chusetts. Within a few years it seems to have been disseminated through- 

 out eastern New England, and was i)articularly acceptable in those sections 

 where IsaVjella failed to ripen. There is no evidence that it was ever planted 



