Gaertner

(Vinifera, Labrusca)



The berries and clusters of Gaertner are large and handsomely colored,

making a very showy grape. The plant is vigorous, productive and as

hardy as any of the hybrids between Labrusca and Vinifera. In view of

these qualities, Gaertner has not received the attention it deserves,

probably because it is more capricious as to soils than some others of

its related hybrids. As a market grap , the variety has the faults of

ripening unevenly and of shipping poorly. The fruit keeps well and

this, with the desirable qualities noted, makes it an excellent grape

for the home vineyard. Gaertner is often compared with Massasoit, the

two varieties being very similar in fruit characters, but Gaertner is

of distinctly better quality than Massasoit. The variety originated

with E. S. Rogers, Salem, Massachusetts. It was first mentioned about

1865.



Vine vigorous, hardy except in severe winters, productive. Canes

long, dark reddish-brown, surface covered with thin bloom;

tendrils continuous, bifid or trifid. Leaves medium in size,

round; upper surface dark green; lower surface pale green,

pubescent. Flowers self-sterile, open late; stamens reflexed.



Fruit mid-season, matures unevenly, keeps only fairly well.

Clusters medium in size, short, cylindrical, usually with a single

shoulder but sometimes double-shouldered, loose with many abortive

fruits. Berries large, round-oval, light to dark red, glossy,

covered with bloom, persistent; skin thin, tender; flesh pale

green, juicy, fine-grained, tough, stringy, agreeably vinous; good

to very good. Seeds free, large, broad, distinctly notched, brown.