Pocklington

(Labrusca)



Before the advent of Niagara, Pocklington (Plate XXII) was the leading

green grape. The variety has the fatal fault, however, of ripening

its crop late, which with some minor defects has caused it to fall

below Niagara for northern grape districts. Pocklington is a seedling

of Concord and resembles its parent in vine characters; the vines are

fully equal to or surpass those of Concord in hardin ss, but are of

slower growth and not quite as healthy, vigorous nor productive. In

quality, the grapes are as good if not better than those of Concord or

Niagara, being sweet, rich and pleasantly flavored, although as with

the other grapes named, it has too much foxiness for critical

consumers. Pocklington is not equal to several other grapes of its

season in quality, as Iona, Jefferson, Diana, Dutchess and Catawba,

but it is far above the average and for this reason should be

retained. John Pocklington, Sandy Hill, New York, grew Pocklington

from seed of Concord about 1870.



Vine medium in vigor, hardy. Canes of medium length, number and

size, dark reddish-brown; nodes enlarged, flattened; tendrils

continuous, bifid or trifid. Leaves variable in size, thick; upper

surface light green, glossy; lower surface tinged with bronze,

pubescent; lobes one to three with terminus acuminate; petiolar

sinus deep, wide; teeth narrow. Flowers self-fertile, mid-season;

stamens upright.



Fruit late mid-season, keeps and ships well. Clusters large,

cylindrical, often single-shouldered, compact; pedicel short,

thick with a few small warts; brush short, green. Berries large,

oblate, yellowish-green with tinge of amber, with thin bloom,

firm; skin with scattering russet dots, thin, tender, adherent,

faintly astringent; flesh light green with yellow tinge,

translucent, juicy, tough, fine-grained, slightly foxy; good.

Seeds adherent, one to six, of medium length and breadth.