Merrimac


(Labrusca, Vinifera)



Merrimac is often accredited as the best black grape among Rogers'

hybrids, but an analysis of the characters of the several black

varieties grown by Rogers shows that it is surpassed by Wilder,

Herbert and possibly Barry. The vine is strong in growth, productive,

hardy and exempt from fungal diseases; but the grapes are not high in

quality, and flesh, skin and seed characters are suc
that the fruit

is not as pleasant to eat as the other black varieties named. Merrimac

is worthy a place in collections for the sake of variety. Rogers gave

this variety the name Merrimac in 1869.



Vine vigorous, usually hardy, productive. Canes slender, dark

brown, surface roughened; nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes

short; tendrils intermittent, short, bifid. Leaves large, thin;

upper surface very light green, glossy, smooth; lower surface pale

green, pubescent and cobwebby; lobes three with terminal one

obtuse; petiolar sinus deep, narrow, sometimes closed and

overlapping; basal sinus usually lacking; lateral sinus shallow,

narrow; teeth shallow. Flowers self-sterile, open in mid-season;

stamens reflexed.



Fruit mid-season, keeps and ships well. Clusters variable in size,

broad, tapering; pedicel slender, covered with numerous

inconspicuous warts; brush wine-colored. Berries large, round,

black, glossy with abundant bloom, persistent, firm; skin thick,

tough, adherent, astringent; flesh light green, translucent,

juicy, fine-grained, tender, stringy; good. Seeds adherent, one to

five, broad, long, with enlarged neck, brown.



More

;