442 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



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VERDAL 



(Vinifera) 

 Aspiran Blanc 



Verdal is one of the standard late grapes of the Pacific slope, 

 ripening among the last. The grapes are seen seldom in distant 

 markets and the quality is not quite good enough to make it 

 a very great favorite for home plantations. Vigor and hardiness 

 of vines commend it as do the large and handsome fruits, and 

 these qualities, with late ripening, will probably long keep it on 

 grape lists in the far West. The description is compiled. 



Vines vigorous, hardy, healthy and productive ; canes rather 

 slender, half erect. Leaves of medium size, glabrous on both surfaces, 

 except below near the axis of the main nerve ; sinuses well marked and 

 generally closed, giving the leaf the appearance of having five holes ; 

 teeth long, unequal, acuminate. Bunches large to very large, irregu- 

 lar, long-conical, usually compact ; shoulders small or lacking ; berries 

 large or very large, yellowish-green ; skin thick but tender ; flesh crisp, 

 firm ; flavor agreeable but not rich ; quality good. Season very late, 

 keeping and shipping well. 



VERGENNES 

 (Labrusca) 



The most valuable attribute of Vergennes (Plate XXIX) is 

 certainty in bearing. The vine seldom fails to bear although it 

 often overbears, causing variability in size of fruits and time of 

 ripening. With a moderate crop, the grapes ripen with Con- 

 cord, but with a heavy load from one to two weeks later. 

 Vergennes is somewhat unpopular with vineyardists because 

 of the sprawling habit of the vines which makes them untract- 

 able for vineyard operations ; this fault is obviated by grafting 

 on other vines. The grapes are attractive, the quality is good, 

 flavor agreeable, the flesh tender, and seeds and skin are not 

 objectionable. Vergennes is the standard late-keeping grape 



