Catawba

(Labrusca, Vinifera)



Arkansas, Catawba Tokay, Cherokee, Fancher, Keller's White, Lebanon,

Lincoln, Mammoth Catawba, Mead's Seedling, Merceron, Michigan, Muncy,

Omega, Rose of Tennessee, Saratoga, Singleton, Tekomah, Tokay,

Virginia Amber.



Catawba has long been the standard red grape in the markets of eastern

America, chiefly because the fruit keeps well and is of high quality.

T e vine is vigorous, hardy and productive, but the foliage and fruit

are susceptible to fungi. These two faults account for the decline of

Catawba in grape regions in the United States and for its growing

unpopularity. In botanical characters and in adaptations and

susceptibilities, the variety suggests Vinifera crossed with Labrusca.

The characters of Catawba seem readily transmissible to its offspring

and, besides having a number of pure-bred descendants which more or

less resemble it, it is a parent of a still greater number of

cross-breeds. As with Catawba, most of its progeny show Vinifera

characters, as intermittent tendrils, Vinifera color of foliage, a

vinous flavor wholly or nearly free from foxiness, and the

susceptibilities of Labrusca-Vinifera hybrids to certain diseases and

insects. Catawba was introduced by John Adlum, District of Columbia,

about 1823. Adlum secured cuttings from a Mrs. Scholl, Clarksburgh,

Montgomery County, Maryland, in the spring of 1819. Its further

history is not known.



Vine vigorous, hardy, productive. Canes numerous, thick, dark

brown; nodes enlarged; tendrils continuous, bifid or trifid.

Leaves large; upper surface light green, dull, smooth; lower

surface grayish-white, heavily pubescent; lobes sometimes three,

terminal one acute; petiolar sinus deep, narrow; basal sinus often

lacking; lateral sinus narrow; teeth shallow, narrow. Flowers

self-fertile, open late, stamens upright.



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

single-or sometimes double-shouldered, loose; pedicel with a few

inconspicuous warts; brush short, pale green. Berries of medium

size, oval, dull purplish-red with thick bloom, firm; skin thick,

adherent, astringent; flesh green, translucent, juicy,

fine-grained, vinous, sprightly, sweet and rich; very good. Seeds

free, frequently abortive, two, broad-necked, distinctly notched,

blunt, brown.