MEMORY 



MISH 



253 



Vine vigorous, hardy, very productive, subject to rot 

 and mildew. Canes long, thick, dark brown with 

 reddish tinge ; nodes enlarged, flattened : tendrils con- 

 tinuous, long, trifid or bifid. Leaves variable in size ; 

 lobes 3-5 with terminus acute ; petiolar sinus deep, 

 narrow ; basal sinus shallow, narrow, obscure ; teeth 

 shallow. Flowers self-sterile, open late ; stamens re- 

 flexed. Fruit early, keeps well. Clusters variable in 

 size, broad, cylindrical, frequently single-shouldered ; 

 pedicel slender with a few indistinct warts ; brush pale 

 green. Berries large, round-oval, dark brownish-red, 

 dull with thin bloom, very persistent, firm ; skin thin, 

 tender, adherent, astringent ; flesh pale green, trans- 

 lucent, juicy, fine-grained, soft, stringy, foxy ; good to 

 very good. Seeds adherent, 1-5, large, broad, distinctly 

 notched, plump, blunt. 



MEMORY. V. rotundifolia. Memory is 

 one of the best of the Rotundifolia grapes for 

 the garden and local markets, and its fruits are 

 especially good for dessert. As yet, however, 

 the variety has not been widely distributed 

 even in North Carolina, where it originated. 

 The variety is given credit for being the most 

 productive of the grapes of its species. Mem- 

 ory is probably a seedling of Thomas, which 

 it much resembles, and was found by T. S. 

 Memory in a vineyard of Thomas grapes near 

 Whiteville, North Carolina, about 1868. 



Vine very vigorous, healthy, productive. Leaves large, 

 longer than broad, thick, smooth with coarsely serrate 

 margins. Flowers perfect. Fruit ripens in September 

 in North Carolina. Clusters large, with from four to 

 twelve berries which hang unusually well for a variety 

 of V. rotundifolia. Berries very large, round-oblong, 

 deep brownish-black, almost jet black ; skin thick ; flesh 

 tender, juicy, sweet ; good to best. 



MERRIMAC. V. Labrusca X V. vinifera. 

 Merrimac is often accredited with being the 

 best black grape among Rogers' hybrids, but an 

 analysis of the characters of the several black 

 varieties grown by Rogers shows that it is sur- 

 passed by Wilder, Herbert, and possibly Barry. 

 The vine is strong in growth, productive, hardy, 

 and exempt from fungal diseases; but the 

 grapes are not high in quality, and flesh-, skin-, 

 and seed-characters are such that the fruit is 

 not so pleasant to eat as that of the other 

 black varieties named. Merrimac is worthy 

 of a place in collections for the sake of va- 

 riety. Rogers gave this variety the name 

 Merrimac in 1869. 



Vine vigorous, usually hardy, productive. Canes 

 slender, dark brown, surface roughened ; nodes enlarged, 

 flattened ; internodes short ; tendrils intermittent, short, 

 bifid. Leaves large, thin ; lobes 3 with terminal one 

 obtuse ; petiolar sinus usually lacking ; lateral sinus 

 shallow, narrow ; teeth shallow. Flowers self-fertile, 

 open in midseason ; stamens reflexed. Fruit midseason, 

 keeps and ships well. Clusters variable in size, broad, 

 tapering ; pedicel slender, covered with numerous incon- 

 spicuous warts ; brush wine-colored. Berries large, round, 

 black, glossy with abundant bloom ; persistent, firm ; 

 skin thick, tough, adherent, astringent ; flesh light green, 

 translucent, juicy, fine-grained, tender, stringy ; good. 

 Seeds adherent, 1-5, broad, long, with enlarged neck, 

 brown. 



MILLS. Fig. 230. V. Labrusca X 7- vini- 

 fera. The bunches and berries of Mills are 

 large and well-formed; the berries are firm 

 and solid, with the skin adherent as in the 

 Vinifera; the flesh is juicy and parts readily 

 from the seeds; the flavor is rich, sweet, and 

 vinous; and the grapes are hardly surpassed 

 in keeping quality. But when the fruit-char- 



acters of Mills have been praised, nothing 

 further can be said in its favor. The vines 

 are neither vigorous, hardy, nor fruitful, and 

 are very subject to mildew; neither wood nor 

 roots ripen well in the North in average sea- 

 sons; and the variety is a most difficult one 

 for nurserymen to grow. Mills is of doubtful 



230. Mills. (X%) 



commercial value, but for the garden the 

 grower may graft it to advantage on some 

 variety with better vine-characters. William 

 H. Mills, Hamilton, Ontario, grew Mills about 

 1870 from seed of Muscat Hamburg fertilized 

 by Creveling. 



Vine medium in vigor, hardiness and productiveness. 

 Canes long, light brown, thick ; nodes enlarged, flat- 

 tened ; tendrils intermittent, bifid or trifid. Leaves 

 large, thick ; lobes 3-5 with terminus acute ; petiolar 

 sinus wide ; teeth deep. Flowers self-fertile, open in 

 midseason ; stamens upright. Fruit midseason, keeps 

 well. Clusters large, long, slender, cylindrical, often 

 double-shouldered, compact ; pedicel slender with nu- 

 merous, small warts ; brush long, wine-colored. Berries 

 large, oval, jet-black with abundant bloom, persistent, 

 firm ; skin thick, tough, adherent ; flesh light green, 

 translucent, juicy, rich, tender, sprightly, vinous, sweet ; 

 very good to best. Seeds free, 1-3, large, brown. 



MISH. V. rotundifolia. Mish is a favorite 

 Rotundifolia in North Carolina, and is planted 

 extensively in some parts of that state. Its 

 outstanding characters are vigor and produc- 

 tiveness in vine, and high quality in the fruit. 

 Mish is named by many as the best all-round 

 Rotundifolia: its fruits are of value for des- 

 sert, wine, and grape-juice. The variety was 

 found by W. W. Mish, about 1846, near Wash- 

 ington, North Carolina. 



Vine very vigorous, productive, healthy, open in 

 growth ; canes somewhat trailing. Leaves large, round, 

 thick, smooth, leathery with coarsely dentate margin. 

 Flowers perfect. Fruit late, does not ripen uniformly, 

 keeps and ships well. Clusters of medium size with 

 from six to fifteen berries which cling well to the 

 pedicel. Berries of medium size, round-oval, deep 

 reddish-black with numerous conspicuous dots ; skin 

 thin, cracking in wet weather ; flesh tender, juicy, 

 sweet, exceptionally well flavored ; very good to best. 



