Etta

(Vulpina, Labrusca)



In appearance, taste and texture of fruit, Etta is very similar to

Elvira, of which it is a seedling. The small, yellow clusters which

characterize Elvira are reproduced in Etta, which differs chiefly in

having a shoulder quite as large as the main bunch itself and in

having a better flavor, lacking the slight foxiness of Elvira. The

vine is very vigorous, hardy, and is productive to a fault. The fruit

ripens with that of Catawba. The tendency of Elvira to crack and

overbear influenced the originator of that variety, Jacob Rommel,

Morrison, Missouri, to try for a grape without these faults, and the

result was Etta from seed of Elvira. The fruit was first exhibited in

1879.



Vine very vigorous, hardy, productive. Canes long, numerous, light

to dark brown; tendrils continuous, bifid. Leaves large, thick;

upper surface dark green, glossy, smooth; lower surface pale

green, somewhat cobwebby. Flowers self-fertile, early; stamens

upright.



Fruit late, keeps well. Clusters small, short, broad, irregularly

cylindrical, usually with a short, single shoulder but sometimes

so heavily shouldered as to form a double bunch, very compact.

Berries small, round, pale green, dull with thin bloom, shattering

when over-ripe, firm; skin thin, tender; flesh juicy,

fine-grained, tough, stringy, slightly foxy, mild; fair in

quality. Seeds free, long, blunt, brown.