Iona

(Labrusca, Vinifera)



In flavor, the fruit of Iona (Plate XIX) has a rare combination of

sweetness and acidity, pure, delicate and vinous. The flesh is

transparent, melting, tender, juicy and of uniform consistency quite

to the center. The seeds are few and small and part readily from the

flesh. The color is a peculiar dark-red wine with a tint of amethyst,

variable and not always attractive. The bunch is arge but loose, with

berries varying in size and ripening unevenly. The fruit may be kept

until late winter. The vine characters of Iona are not as good as

those of the fruit. To do well, the vine must have a soil exactly

suited to its wants, seemingly thriving best in deep, dry, sandy or

gravelly clays. Iona responds especially well when trained against

walls or buildings, attaining under such conditions rare perfection.

The vines are doubtfully hardy and in many parts of the North must

have winter protection; they are not vigorous and are inclined to

overbear, to remedy which they must have close pruning. In localities

in which mildew and rot thrive, the variety is badly attacked by these

diseases. Iona originated with C. W. Grant, Iona Island, New York,

from seed of Diana planted in 1885.



Vine weak, doubtfully hardy, unproductive. Canes short, light

brown; nodes enlarged; internodes short; tendrils intermittent,

bifid. Leaves thick; upper surface light green, dull, smooth;

lower surface grayish-green, heavily pubescent; lobes three to

five with terminal one acute; petiolar sinus of medium depth and

width; basal sinus shallow; lateral sinus shallow, wide; teeth

shallow. Flowers self-fertile, open late; stamens upright.



Fruit late, keeps well. Clusters medium in size, sometimes

double-shouldered, slender, tapering, loose; brush pale green.

Berries uniform, oval, round, dull, light and dark red with thin

bloom, persistent, firm; skin tough, adherent, slightly

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

melting, vinous; very good. Seeds free, one to four, small, broad,

plump, brown.