VARIETIES OF GRAPES 391 



form, oval, round, dull, light and dark red with thin bloom, persistent, 

 firm ; skin tough, adherent, slightly astringent ; flesh green, trans- 

 lucent, juicy, fine-grained, tender, melting, vinous ; very good. Seeds 

 free, one to four, small, broad, plump, brown. 



ISABELLA 



(Labrusca, Vinifera) 



Alexander, Black Cape, Christie's Improved Isabella, Conck- 

 ling's Wilding, Constantia, Dorchester, GibVs Grape, Hensell's 

 Long Island, Payne's Early, Ilelene, Woodward 



Isabella (Plate XX) is now of little more than historical inter- 

 est, it having been one of the mainstays of American viticulture. 

 In appearance, the fruit of Isabella is fully as attractive as that 

 of any black grape, the clusters being large and well formed and 

 the berries glossy black with thick bloom. The flavor is good, 

 but the thick skin and muskiness in taste are objectionable. The 

 grapes keep and ship well. Isabella is surpassed in vine char- 

 acters by many other kinds, notably Concord, which has taken 

 its place. The lustrous green, ample foliage which remains 

 late in the season, and the vigor of the vine, make this variety 

 an attractive ornamental, well adapted for growing on arbors, 

 porches and trellises. The origin of Isabella is not known. 

 It was obtained by William Prince, Flushing, Long Island, 

 about 1816 from Mrs. Isabella Gibbs, Brooklyn, New York. 



Vine vigorous, hardy, productive. Canes short, numerous with 

 heavy pubescence, thick, light brown ; nodes enlarged, flattened ; in- 

 ternodes short ; tendrils continuous, long, bifid or trifid. Leaves 

 thick ; upper surface dark green, smooth, glossy ; lower surface 

 whitish-green, heavily pubescent ; lobes three when present with 

 terminal lobe obtuse ; petiolar sinus shallow, narrow, often closed, 

 overlapping ; basal sinus usually wanting ; lateral sinus shallow, 

 narrow, frequently notched ; teeth shallow, wide. Flowers self-fertile, 

 open in mid-season ; stamens upright. 



Fruit late, keeps and ships well. Clusters large, cylindrical, 

 frequently single-shouldered ; pedicel slender, smooth ; brush long, 



