VARIETIES OF GRAPES 361 



Fruit late, keeps well. Clusters large, broad, tapering, occasionally 

 shouldered, compact ; pedicel covered with small warts ; brush slender, 

 pale green. Berries medium in size, slightly ovate, light red covered 

 with thin bloom, persistent, firm ; skin thick, tough, slightly adherent ; 

 flesh pale green, translucent, juicy, tough, fine-grained, vinous, good. 

 Seeds adherent, one to three, light brown. 



DOWNING 



(Vinifera, ^Estivalis, Labrusca) 



Downing is well worthy a place in the garden because of the 

 high quality, handsome appearance and good keeping qualities 

 of the grapes. Added to these qualities of the fruits are fair 

 vigor and health of vine. When grown as far north as New 

 York, the vine should be laid down in the winter or receive 

 other protection. In most seasons, unremitting warfare must 

 be kept up to check mildew. In appearance of bunch and berry, 

 Downing is distinct, the clusters being large and well-formed 

 and the berries having the oval shape of a Malaga. The flesh, 

 also, shows Vitis vinifera in texture and quality, while neither 

 seeds nor skins are as objectionable as in pure-bred American 

 varieties. J. H. Ricketts, Newburgh, New York, first grew 

 Downing about 1865. 



Vine tender to cold, unproductive. Canes short, few, slender, 

 dark green with an ash-gray tinge, surface covered with thin bloom, 

 often roughened with a few small warts ; nodes much enlarged, strongly 

 flattened ; internodes short ; tendrils intermittent, bifid or trifid. 

 Leaves small, round, thick ; upper surface dark green, glossy, rugose ; 

 lower surface dark green, glabrous ; lobes one to five, terminal lobe 

 acute ; petiolar sinus narrow, closed and overlapping ; basal sinus 

 shallow and narrow when present; lateral sinus shallow, narrow; 

 teeth wide, deep. Flowers open late ; stamen* upright. 



Fruit late, keeps until spring. Clusters large, long, slender, cylin- 

 drical, sometimes loosely shouldered ; pedicel slender, covered with 

 numerous warts ; brush long, slender, green. Berries large, markedly 

 oval, dark purplish-black, glossy, covered with light bloom, strongly 

 persistent, firm ; skin thick, tender, adherent ; flesh green with a 

 yellow tinge, translucent, very juicy, tender, fine-grained, vinous, mild ; 

 very good in quality. Seeds free, one to three, notched, long, brown. 



