MUSCAT OF ALEXANDRIA 



NOAH 



255 



favored grape regions in the East. The de- 

 scription is compiled. 



Vine of medium size, vigorous, healthy ; canes strong, 

 spreading, reddish-brown with short internodes. Leaves 

 of medium size, thin, 5-lobed ; glabrous except on the 

 lower sides of the well-marked ribs where a few hairs 

 show_. Bunches long, cylindrical, regular, compact. 

 Berries round, golden-yellow becoming amber ; flavor 

 sweet, rich, aromatic, peculiar ; quality very good. 

 Season late midseason, keeps and ships well. 



MUSCAT OF ALEXANDRIA. V. vini- 

 jera. This is possibly the leading table- and 

 raisin-grape of the Pacific slope. From the 

 literature or from a visit to vineyards, one 

 cannot make out whether one variety or sev- 

 eral varieties are grown under the name. 

 Probably there are several strains grown under 

 the distinctive name "Muscat" which is ap- 

 plied to these sweet, light yellow, musky 

 grapes. This is one of the standard sorts to 

 force indoors, but requires too long a season 

 for out-of-doors in the East. The following 

 description is compiled: 



Vine short, straggling, bushy, sometimes forming a 

 bush rather than a vine, very productive ; wood gray 

 with dark spots, short-jointed. Leaf round, 5-lobed ; 

 bright green above, lighter green below. Bunches long 

 and loose, shouldered. Berries oblong, light yellow and 

 transparent when fully mature, covered with white 

 bloom ; flesh firm, crisp ; flavor sweet and very musky ; 

 quality good. Season late, the laterals producing a 

 second, sometimes even a third, crop. 



MUSCAT HAMBURG. 7. vinifera. 

 Muscat Hamburg is an old European grape 

 well known in some parts of America in green- 

 house graperies, since it is one of the best 

 for forcing. All who know the beautiful fruits 

 of this variety grown in forcing-houses will 

 want to test Muscat Hamburg out-of-doors. 

 At the Geneva, New York, Experiment Sta- 

 tion, it has done well, producing clusters at- 

 taining a weight of a pound and a half to two 

 pounds. One is struck with wondering admira- 

 tion at the vine of this variety laden with 

 grapes growing by the side of plants of Con- 

 cord, Niagara, or Delaware. The fruits are 

 delectable, containing the quintessence of the 

 flavors and aromas which make the grape a 

 favorite fruit. The grapes keep long and 

 retain almost to the end their form, size, and 

 color, and their rich, delicate flavor. This 

 variety is a treasure to the amateur; and the 

 professional who wants another grape for local 

 markets should try grafting over a few vines 

 of some native to this sort. 



Vines vigorous, tender, need protection during the 

 winter ; canes long, numerous, slender to medium, light 

 brown, darker at the nodes which are enlarged and 

 flattened. Leaves medium to large. Fruit ripens in 

 October, ships and keeps well. Clusters very large, long, 

 broad, tapering, single- or double-shouldered. Berries 

 large, firm, oval, very dark purplish-red, covered with 

 lilac bloom, very persistent ; skin thick, adheres strongly 

 to the pulp ; flesh pale green, translucent, meaty, very 

 juicy, tender, vinous, musky, sweet, rich ; very good 

 to best. Seeds separating easily from the pulp, large. 



NIAGARA. Fig. 232. 7. Labrusca X 7. 

 vinifera. Niagara is the leading American 

 green grape, and holds the rank among grapes 

 of this color that Concord maintains among 



black varieties. It is, however, a less valuable 

 grape than Concord, and it is doubtful whether 

 it should be ranked much higher than several 

 other green grapes. In vigor and productive- 

 ness, when the two grapes are on equal footing 

 as to adaptability, Niagara and Concord rank 

 the same. In hardiness of root and vine, 

 Niagara falls short of Concord; it cannot be 



232. Niagara. (X%) 



grown without winter protection where the 

 thermometer falls much below zero. Both 

 bunches and berries of Niagara are larger than 

 those of Concord and are better formed, mak- 

 ing a handsomer fruit. The fruit shells as 

 badly as that of Concord and does not keep 

 longer. Both vine and fruit of Niagara are 

 more susceptible to fungal diseases than those 

 of Concord, especially to black-rot, which 

 proves a veritable scourge with this variety in 

 unfavorable seasons. Niagara was produced 

 by C. L. Hoag and B. W. Clark, Lockport, 

 New York, from seed of Concord fertilized 

 by Cassady, planted in 1868. 



Vine vigorous, lacking in hardiness, very productive. 

 Canes long, thick, reddish-brown deepening in color 

 at the nodes which are enlarged and slightly flattened ; 

 internodes long, thick ; tendrils continuous, long, bifid 

 or trifid. Leaves large, thick ; lobes 3-5 with terminus 

 acute ; petiolar sinus of medium depth and width ; basal 

 sinus shallow, wide, often toothed ; lateral sinus wide, 

 frequently toothed ; teeth shallow, variable in width. 

 Flowers self-fertile, open in midseason ; stamens up- 

 right. Fruit midseason, keeps well. Clusters large, 

 long, broad, tapering, frequently single-shouldered, com- 

 pact ; pedicel thick with a few, small, inconspicuous 

 warts ; brush pale green, long. Berries large, oval, pale 

 yellowish-green with thin bloom, persistent, firm ; skin 

 thin, tender, adherent, astringent ; flesh light green, 

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

 Seeds free, 1-6, deeply notched, brown. 



NOAH. 7. vulpina X 7. Labrusca. Noah 

 is little known at present outside of Missouri, 

 where it is still planted somewhat. Noah and 

 Elvira are often confused, but there are 

 marked differences. The clusters of Elvira 



