Northern Muscadine


(Labrusca)



That this variety, together with Lucile, Lutie and other grapes with

the foxy taste strongly marked, has not become popular, in spite of

good vine characters, is evidence that the American public do not

desire such grapes. In appearance of fruit, Northern Muscadine is much

like Lutie, the two being distinguished from other grapes by an

unmistakable odor. A serious defect of the fruit is that th
berries

shatter badly as soon as they reach maturity. Taken as a whole, the

vine characters of this variety are very good and offer possibilities

for the grape-breeder. The variety originated at New Lebanon, New

York, and was brought to notice by D. J. Hawkins and Philemon Stewart

of the Society of Shakers about 1852.



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

brown, heavily pubescent; tendrils continuous, bifid, dehisce

early. Leaves large, round, thick; upper surface dull, rugose;

lower surface dark bronze, heavily pubescent. Flowers

self-fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright.



Fruit early mid-season, does not keep well. Clusters medium in

size, short, occasionally single-shouldered, compact. Berries

large, oval, dark amber with thin bloom, drop badly from the

pedicel; skin tough, adherent, astringent; flesh pale green,

juicy, fine-grained, tender, soft, very foxy, sweet; poor in

quality. Seeds free, numerous, large, broad, faintly notched,

long, brown.



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