Clevener

(Vulpina, Labrusca)



This variety has long been grown in New Jersey and New York, and in

both states is highly esteemed as a wine-grape. The fruit is

remarkable in coloring very early and in ripening late. The vine is

hardy, very vigorous, succeeds in various soils, and since it bears

grafts well is an excellent sort upon which to graft varieties not

thriving on their own roots. Clevener is self-sterile an must be

planted with some other variety to set fruit well. In spite of its

good qualities, Clevener is hardly holding its own in commercial

vineyards, and it is not a desirable fruit for the amateur who wants a

table-grape. Clevener has been raised in the vicinity of Egg Harbor,

New Jersey, since about 1870, but its place and time of origin are

unknown.



Vine a rampant grower, hardy, productive. Canes long, numerous,

thick, dark reddish-brown with heavy bloom; nodes enlarged;

tendrils continuous, bifid. Leaves unusually large, dark green

with well-defined ribs showing through the thin pubescence of the

under surface; lobes wanting or faint; teeth deep, wide. Flowers

self-sterile, open very early; stamens reflexed.



Fruit late, keeps well. Clusters do not always fill well, small,

short, slender, irregularly tapering, often with a single

shoulder. Berries small, round or slightly flattened, black,

glossy, covered with heavy bloom, persistent, firm; skin tough,

thin, inclined to crack, adherent with much purplish-red pigment;

flesh reddish-green, juicy, tender, soft, fine-grained, aromatic,

spicy; good. Seeds free, notched, sharp-pointed, dark brown.