Omega. 



DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES. 



Osmond. 1G5 



afterwards information from different sources 

 that these four names represented the same grape. 

 I cannot now remember from whom [ got the 

 history of the old Spaniard Jacquez and of the 

 various names having originated as I have stated; 

 but I am altogether satisfied (from examining the 

 matter for several years) of the identity of Black 

 Spanish. Jacquez. Cigar-box and Ohio.'' 



•'If there is any valuable difference between the 

 Black Spanish and Lfiioir, it is in favnr of the 

 latter." 



[n August, 1892, however, Onderdonk wrote us 

 that, having obtained from Campbell a plant of 

 the ''Ohio''' or "■Ciyar-hux.'" he can testify that 

 his " Ohio " is distinct from the variety cultivated 

 in Texas under the names of Black Spanish, El 

 Paso, Jacquez, etc. 



Omega. (Labr. X) Originated by that success- 

 ful producer of hardy varieties of high quality, 

 the late John Burr of Leavenworth, Kansas; 

 from what source this and some others came he 

 even could not say, as the seed was mixed. The 

 vine is vigorous, hardy and prolific; it has never 

 shown any liability to rot or mildew on his 

 grounds; the bunch is of medium size only, rather 

 short and compact; the beri-ies are very large, 

 dark ked with tender pulp, juicy, sprightly and 

 sweet; quality best; ripens about with Concord. 



Oineg:a, (Lnhr.) an old Catawl)a Seedling, abandoned. 



Onderdonk. {^Est.) This delicate white grape 

 is a pure seedling of Herbemont, originated by T. 

 V. Munson, in 1886, and named in i-espect to his 

 friend and co-laborer in the improvement of our 

 native grapes. In leafing out, flowering, ripening 

 fruit and shedding foliage it is very late, pi'eceeding 

 Herbemont a few days only. Growth very vigor- 

 ous, leaves somewhat larger and more deeply 

 lobed, not quite so firm and leathery as those of 

 its parent; it is less afflicted by black rot (but j 

 sometimes attacked by Ripe Grape Rot [y] which 1 

 does not trouble Herbemont.) It endures cold 

 equally well with Herbemont and will probably 

 succeed in about the same regions where the Her- 

 bemont does. The vine is a sure and abundant 

 cropper; its cuttings root more readily than with 

 Herbemont; the wood is somewhat darker with a 

 little longer joints. Cluster large, compound, 

 compact, conical; bernf a shade larger than in 

 Herbemont, of light gkeknish-yellow color, j 

 translucent; skin thin, tough; pulp melting, very ! 

 juicy, pure, sprightly, sweet; seeds small, 1 to 3; it 

 is an exquisite dessert and white wine grape. We 

 consider it very promising for the South Atlantic 

 and South Central States. The illustration, made , 

 specially for the Bushberg Catalogue, was photo- 

 graphed from natui-e. (See next page, 166.) 



Oneida. {Lahr.-Hyhr,) Said to be a seedling of Mer- 

 rimack (Rogers' No. 19), raised by Tl)acker, of Oneida 

 couii.y, X. Y., whostatestbat tlie vine Ijore its first fruit 

 in the fall of 1875, when four years old, and is a strong, 

 healthy grower, free from disease; wood short-jointed, 

 and ripens well; a good liean^r; bunches medium size, 

 evenly shouldei'ed, sufficiently compact; fter/wes large, 

 twice the size of Delawai-e, which it resembles in color; 

 skin brittle, with a delicate bloom. It ripens on the or- 

 iginal vine gradually from the 10th to the 2.5th of Sep- 

 tember. Keejjs well and does not drop from the stem. I 

 A. ]\I. Purdy, Palmyra, X. Y., who introduced this sort on 

 subscription, to l)e delivered in the spring of 1884, i 

 thought that the Oneida would prove the best and longest [ 

 winter -keeping grape introduced. 



OnoiKlag^a. (io6;-.-//2/6r.) Originated in Fayettrville, 

 Onondaga Co., N. Y.; a cross between the Diana and 

 the Delaware; said to combine in some degree the 

 flavor of both, ripening at the same time as Delaware, 

 and to be a late keeper. Its appearance is certainly 



very fine, resembling Diana. Should it prove as good 

 and healtiiy as its originator claims, It would indeed 

 be a viilualjle acquisition as a market grape. 



Opal. (Labr.-Hybr.) Lindley Seedling, pro- 

 duced by T. V. Munson, see page 159. 



Oporto. (Hip.) Of the same character as Clinton; 

 a true native with a foreign namt!. Bunches small, usu- 

 ally very imperfect; berries small, black, harsh, and 

 very acid. Considered a very poor variety by Fuller. 

 "Of no value, a complete humbug." Susniunn.' 



Regarded as a valuable wine grape by Gov. K. W. 

 Furnas, of Nebraska, who says (Report to Am. Pomol. 

 Society, 1871), "My vines (of Oporto) have never failed 

 to give a fine crop; last year I picked eleven hundred 

 good bunches from one vine five years old. It is an ex- 

 ceedingly raniijant grower, and, as a rule, the bunch 

 not compact, Ijcaiing the fruit on until after first frost 

 in fall. I have found the Oporto to give a first-class 

 yield of very good wine— greatly improved by age." 



The difference of opinion is attrilmtable, no doubt, to 

 differences in soil, etc.; in a granitic, shistose (slaty) 

 soil the Oporto flourishes best, while in alluvial soil it 

 loses its foliage. In some parts of France it was used 

 as a Phyllo.xera-resisting grafting stock. 



Oriental. (Labr.-Hyhr.) Produced by X. B. 

 White, of Norwood, Mass., fvom a wild Labrusca 

 seed crossed by Black Hamburg. A fine i>akk 

 RED market grape. 



Oriole. (Line. X ^Est.) See Munson's Hybrids, 

 best quality, but very late, page 159. 



Osage. (Labr. y ) Originated by the late John 

 Burr from seed of Concord. Vine vigorous, hardy 

 and productive, but rots also, about like Concord. 

 Bnncli large, shouldered ; bernj very large, larger 

 than Concord, black; somewhat pulpy, juicy, 

 sweet, sprightly ; considered better in quality 

 and ripens about a week earlier than Concord. 

 Our old friend Sam. Miller said in Colman's Rural 

 World, ''Osage, a large black grape, I think valu- 

 able." 



Osceola. (Labr. X ) Raised by Dr. J. Stayman, 

 from seed of his friend Burr's Standard grape. 

 It is a very strong handsome grower, hardy and 

 productive; foliage strongly labrusca; has shown 

 neither rot nor mildew so far; bunch medium, 

 compact; bernj- white, rather large, tender, but 

 skin very fii-m ; meaty, sprigbtly sweet with some 

 of the native aroma; ripens very early, with Jewel. 

 A fine table grape of a new type. 



Osee. (Bijj. X ) Originated by John Burr, de- 

 ceased, of Leavenworth, Kan. ; when and from 

 what parent seed is not recorded. The vine is 

 immensely productive, vigorous and hardy; never 

 mildewed or rotted on his grounds. Bunch me- 

 dium, short, shouldered, compact; berry very 

 large, white, tender, very juicy and of a peculiar 

 flavor. Seems to be a very valuable grape for 

 white wine and for jelly. 



Oskaloosa. (yEst. X) Originated by Dr. J. 

 Stayman, of Leavenworth, from Delaxcare. Vine 

 vigorous, hardy, healthy and productive; has 

 shown neither rot nor mildew so far. Bunch me- 

 dium, compact: berry large, black, pulp tender, 

 juicy, sprightly, vinous sweet, quality best; ripens 

 very late, after Ozark, and will hang on the Vines 

 long after ripe. The originator says : This grape 

 requires a favorable location and a long season to 

 mature here. 



Osmond. (Bip.) A seedling from Franklin. 

 raised by O. T. Hobbs, Randolph, Pa. Bunch 

 and berry small, round, black, blue bloom ; vin- 

 ous, harsh. — Mitzky, Our Native Grape. 



