Brilliant

(Labrusca, Vinifera, Bourquiniana)



Brilliant is a cross between Lindley and Delaware. In cluster and size

of berry it resembles Lindley; in color and quality of fruit it is

about the same as Delaware, differing chiefly in having more

astringency in the skin. Its season is about with Delaware. The grapes

do not crack or shell, therefore ship well, and have very good keeping

qualities, especially on the vin where they often hang for weeks. The

vine is vigorous and hardy. The defects which have kept Brilliant from

becoming one of the standard commercial sorts are: marked

susceptibility to fungi, variability in size of cluster, unevenness in

ripening and unproductiveness. In favorable situations this variety

pleases the amateur, and the commercial grower often finds it

profitable. The seed which produced Brilliant was planted by T. V.

Munson, Denison, Texas, in 1883 and the variety was introduced in

1887.



Vine vigorous, hardy, rather unproductive. Canes long, numerous,

thick, dark brown; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes long;

tendrils intermittent, long, bifid. Leaves large, thick; upper

surface dark green, dull, rugose; lower surface gray-green, downy;

obscurely three-lobed with terminal lobe acute; petiolar sinus

deep, narrow; basal and lateral sinuses obscure and shallow when

present; teeth intermediate in depth and width. Flowers open late,

self-fertile; stamens upright.



Fruit early mid-season, keeps well. Clusters medium, blunt,

cylindrical, usually shouldered, compact; pedicel short, thick

with a few small warts; brush short, thick, pale green with

reddish tinge. Berries round, dark red, glossy with thin bloom,

strongly adherent, firm; skin thin, tough, adherent; flesh pale

green, transparent, juicy, stringy, fine-grained, vinous, sweet;

good. Seeds clinging, one to four, large, broad, elongated, plump,

light brown.