Rebecca

(Labrusca, Vinifera)



In the middle of the last century, when grape-growing was in the hands

of the connoisseurs, Rebecca was one of the sterling green varieties.

It is wholly unsuited for commercial vineyards and for years has been

disappearing gradually from cultivation. The fruit is exceptionally

fine, consisting of well-formed bunches and berries, the latter

handsome yellowish-white and semi-transparen . In quality, the grapes

are of the best, with a rich, sweet flavor and pleasing aroma. But the

vine characters condemn Rebecca for any but the amateur. The vines

lack in hardiness and vigor, are susceptible to mildew and other fungi

and are productive only under the best conditions. The original vine

was an accidental seedling found in the garden of E. M. Peake, Hudson,

New York, and bore its first fruit in 1852.



Vine weak, sometimes vigorous, doubtfully hardy. Canes long,

numerous, slender, dull brown, deepening in color at the nodes;

tendrils continuous or intermittent, bifid or trifid. Leaves

variable in size; upper surface dark green, dull, rugose; lower

surface grayish-green, pubescent. Flowers self-fertile; stamens

upright.



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

short, cylindrical, rarely with a small, single shoulder, compact.

Berries of medium size, oval, green with yellow tinge verging on

amber, thin gray bloom, persistent, firm; skin thin, without

pigment; flesh pale green, very juicy, tender, melting, vinous, a

little foxy, sweet; good to very good. Seeds free, short, narrow,

blunt, brown.