Downing

(Vinifera, AEstivalis, Labrusca)



Downing is well worthy a place in the garden because of the high

quality, handsome appearance and good keeping qualities of the grapes.

Added to these qualities of the fruits are fair vigor and health of

vine. When grown as far north as New York, the vine should be laid

down in the winter or receive other protection. In most seasons,

unremitting warfare must be kept up to heck mildew. In appearance of

bunch and berry, Downing is distinct, the clusters being large and

well-formed and the berries having the oval shape of a Malaga. The

flesh, also, shows Vitis vinifera in texture and quality, while

neither seeds nor skins are as objectionable as in pure-bred American

varieties. J. H. Ricketts, Newburgh, New York, first grew Downing

about 1865.



Vine tender to cold, unproductive. Canes short, few, slender, dark

green with an ash-gray tinge, surface covered with thin bloom,

often roughened with a few small warts; nodes much enlarged,

strongly flattened; internodes short; tendrils intermittent, bifid

or trifid. Leaves small, round, thick; upper surface dark green,

glossy, rugose; lower surface dark green, glabrous; lobes one to

five, terminal lobe acute; petiolar sinus narrow, closed and

overlapping; basal sinus shallow and narrow when present; lateral

sinus shallow, narrow; teeth wide, deep. Flowers open late;

stamens upright.



Fruit late, keeps until spring. Clusters large, long, slender,

cylindrical, sometimes loosely shouldered; pedicel slender,

covered with numerous warts; brush long, slender, green. Berries

large, markedly oval, dark purplish-black, glossy, covered with

light bloom, strongly persistent, firm; skin thick, tender,

adherent; flesh green with a yellow tinge, translucent, very

juicy, tender, fine-grained, vinous, mild; very good in quality.

Seeds free, one to three, notched, long, brown.