VARIETIES OF GRAPES 355 



bunches. The variety is markedly self-sterile. The origin of 

 Creveling is uncertain. It was introduced about 1857 by F. 

 F. Merceron, Catawissa, Pennsylvania. 



Vine vigorous, not hardy, often unproductive. Canes long, nu- 

 merous, thick, reddish-brown ; nodes enlarged, flattened ; internodes 

 long ; shoots glabrous ; tendrils continuous, long, trifid or bifid. 

 Leaves large, thick ; upper surface dark green, dull, rugose ; lower sur- 

 face pale green, pubescent ; lobes three, or obscurely five, terminal 

 one acute ; petiolar sinus deep, closed, overlapping ; basal sinus very 

 shallow ; lateral sinus shallow, narrow ; teeth shallow. Flowers on 

 plan of six, self-sterile, open in mid-season ; stamens reflexed. 



Fruit early, does not keep well. Clusters long, broad, irregularly 

 tapering, single-shouldered, the shoulder often connected to the cluster 

 by a long stem, loose ; brush thick, dark wine-color. Berries large, 

 oval, dull black, covered with heavy bloom, persistent, firm ; skin 

 thick, tough, adherent with wine-colored pigment, astringent ; flesh 

 pale green, translucent, juicy, stringy, tender, coarse, foxy ; good. 

 Seeds free, one to five, broad, notched, blunt, light brown. 



CROTON 



(Vinifera, Labrusca, Bourquiniana) 



The fruit of Croton is a feast both to the eye and to the 

 palate. Unfortunately the vine is difficult to grow, being 

 adapted to but few soils and proving unfruitful, weak in growth, 

 precariously tender and subject to mildew and rot in unfavorable 

 situations. The grapes have a delicate, sweet Vinifera flavor 

 with melting flesh which readily separates from the few seeds. 

 The crop hangs on the vines until frost and keeps well into the 

 winter. In spite of high quality of fruit, Croton has never 

 become widely distributed, wholly failing as a commercial 

 variety. It originated with S. W. Underbill, Croton Point, 

 New York, from a seed of Delaware pollinated by a European 

 grape. Fruits were first exhibited in 1868. 



Vine vigorous, tender, productive. Canes long, numerous, thick, 

 dark reddish-brown ; nodes enlarged ; internodes short ; shoots 

 glabrous ; tendrils intermittent, long, bifid. Leaves of medium size, 

 hang late ; upper surface light green, dull, smooth ; lower surface pale 



