Champion


(Labrusca)



Beaconsfield, Early Champion, Talman's Seedling



Champion is a favorite early grape with some growers, although the

poor quality of the fruit should have driven it from cultivation long

ago. The characters which have kept it in the market are earliness,

good shipping qualities, attractive appearance of fruit, and a

vigorous, productive, hardy vine. The hardiness of the vine and the
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short season of fruit development make it a good variety for northern

climates. This grape is best in appearance of fruit, in quality and in

the quantity produced, on light sandy soils. The origin of Champion is

unknown. It was first grown about 1870 in New York.



Vine very vigorous, hardy and productive. Canes of average size,

dark brown; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes short; shoots

pubescent; tendrils continuous, long, bifid. Leaves large; upper

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

lobes usually three, often obscurely five, terminal one acute;

petiolar sinus deep; teeth shallow. Flowers self-fertile, early;

stamens upright.



Fruit early, three weeks before Concord, season short. Clusters

medium in size, blunt, cylindrical, usually not shouldered,

compact; pedicel short with inconspicuous warts; brush white

tinged with bronze. Berries medium in size, round, dull black

covered with heavy bloom, soft; skin thick, tender, adherent,

astringent; flesh light green, translucent, juicy, fine-grained,

tender, foxy; poor in quality. Seeds adherent, one to five, broad,

long, blunt, light brown.



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