Berckmans. 



DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES. 



Slack Pearl. 75 



Berckmaiis. A cross between Clinton and Dela- 

 ware, originated by the late Dr. A. P. Wylie, Chester, 

 S. C. Vine very vigorous and prolific; growth and 

 foliage almost similar to Clinton. Bunches and berries 

 larger than Delaware, of same color and quite equal in 

 quality to this favorite variety. We were growing it 

 under restrictions, not to propagate nor to sell or give 

 any wood of same. It proved healthier, freer from 

 mildew, than Delaware, and deserves dissemination. 

 We are happy to learn that P. J. Berkmans, in whose 

 honor it was named, has propagated it, and vines are 

 now growing and fruiting in several localities North 

 and South, fully sustaining our good opinion of it. 



Black Defiance. (Underbill's 8-8 Hybr.) A 

 splendid, late table grape, about the best black 

 table grape we have, with us more desirable 

 than Senasqua. If we are rightly informed, it 

 is a cross between Black St. Peters and Con- 

 cord. Bunch and berries large, black, with a 

 fine bloom; three weeks later than Concord, 

 and much better in quality. Succeeds well, 

 and pleases also in France. 



Black Eagle. (Underbill's 8-12.) A Hybrid 

 of Labr. and Vinifera. A fine, early table 

 grape, of best quality. The leaf is one of the 

 most beautiful we know of, very firm, dark 

 green, deeply lobed, of the shape of the foreign, j 



The vine is of very erect and vigorous growth, 

 hardy and healthy, yet subject to rot, as all 

 other Hybrids of Labr. and Vin., in unfavor- 

 able seasons and localities ; roots straight and 

 smooth, almost tough, with a medium liber; 

 canes remarkably straight and upright, with 

 numerous, but small laterals ; wood firm with 

 medium pith ; bunch large, moderately com- 

 pact; berries large, oval, black, with blue 

 bloom ; flesh rich and melting, with little pulp. 

 With Underhill the fruit set imperfectly, but it 

 does not always show that fault, and may have 

 been due to unfavorable weather during its 

 florescence at Croton Point. We consider it 

 one of the most promising varieties. Camp- 

 bell, of Delaware, considers it as "among the 

 best of the hybrid varieties." Berckmans, of 

 Georgia, Chairman of Fruit Committee, said : 

 " Black Eagle we find to be unsurpassed in 

 quality, productiveness and vigor. I have 

 seen bunches that weighed a pound and three- 

 quarters, grown at Macon, Georgia, three 

 years ago." 



We give on the following page a full size 

 figure of its bunch and leaf (the ribs of the 

 latter incorrectly drawn, as usual). 



Black Hawk. A seedling from the Concord, 

 raised by Samuel Miller. Bunch large, rather 

 loose ; berry large, black, round, juicy, sweet ; 

 pulp very tender ; ripens full as early as the 

 Concord, and seems to be healthy and hardy. 



We find it sometimes a little earlier than Con- 

 cord. It has the remarkable peculiarity that 

 its leaf is of so dark a green as to appear 

 almost black. 



Black King-. (Labr.) A hardy and vigorous 

 early grape, of medium size ; sweet but foxy. Strong. 



Black Pearl. (Riparia.} Syn. SCHRAIDT'S 

 SEEDLING. Origina-tor, Caspar Schraidt, of 

 Put-in-Bay, O. Probably from seed of Clinton 

 or Taylor. Vine a vigorous, healthy grower, 

 similar in appearance of growth and foliage to 

 Elvira and Noah. It succeeds admirably on 

 the islands and shores of Lake Erie, where it is 

 very productive. In our heavier clay soils and 

 warmer climate it is less satisfactory both in 

 quality and productiveness ; the bunch is not 

 as large and handsome as on the islands and 

 on the lake shore, where it far surpasses the 1 

 Clinton in appearance, and makes a valuable 

 DARK-RED wine. 



Dr. Warder considered it "an exceedingly 

 promising grape, of the Clinton class." (Am. 

 Pom. S. 1877.) So did we also consider it, after 

 examining it for several seasons in Schraidt's 

 vineyard ; and after transplanting a few vines, 

 obtained from him, into our Bushberg vine- 

 yard, and admiring its luxurious, healthy 

 growth there, we secured from Mr. Schraidt a 

 thousand cuttings, and disseminated this new 

 variety, in 1877, with his consent, under the 

 name of Black Pearl. (He first intended to 

 call it "Burgundy 11 or "Schraidt's Burgundy," 

 and claimed it to be a seedling from the Dela- 

 ware.) Geo. W. Campbell, of Ohio, who is 

 good authority and had opportunities to ob- 

 serve this grape in his own State, says : " It*is 

 a strong growing and very productive vine, 

 and is probably a valuable addition to the 

 quite limited number of red-wine grapes." 

 And as such only we recommend it for certain 

 localities. 



In August, 1882, a season of unparalled de- 

 struction through mildew and rot in the Miss- 

 issippi Valley region, E. Baxter, of Nauvoo, 

 reports the Black Pearl grape as exceptionably 

 fine, leaf extra good. A. Wehrle, of Middle 

 Bass, the leading wine producer of Ohio, wrote 

 to us last fall that he finds this wine grape un- 

 surpassed in color ; must of good saccharine 

 weight and proper degree of acidity ; but adds : 

 " It suffers with us sometimes during the flow- 

 ering season, otherwise it is a most valuable 

 grape, and pays well to the producer." 



Black Taylor. (Riparia X or Rommels No. 19.) 

 In many respects similar to his No. 14, or MONTEFIOKK, 

 has not been sufficiently tried, and should not be dis- 

 seminated unless it should prove sufficiently distinct 

 or superior to this valuable novelty. 



