Goethe

(Vinifera, Labrusca)



Of all Rogers' hybrids, Goethe shows Vinifera characters most,

resembling in appearance the White Malaga of Europe, and not falling

far short of the best Old World grapes in quality. But the variety is

difficult to grow, especially where the seasons are not long enough

for full maturity. The vine is vigorous to a fault; it is fairly

immune to mildew, rot and other diseases; and, where it succeeds, the

vines bear so freely that thinning becomes a necessity. Added to high

quality, which makes it an excellent table-grape, Goethe keeps well.

Goethe was first mentioned in 1858 under the name of Rogers' No. 1.



Vine vigorous, hardy. Canes short, dark brown; nodes enlarged,

flattened; internodes short; tendrils continuous or intermittent,

long, bifid to trifid. Leaves irregularly round, thin; upper

surface light green, glossy; lower surface pale green, pubescent;

leaf usually not lobed, terminus broadly acute; petiolar sinus

narrow, closed and overlapping; basal sinus usually lacking;

lateral sinus shallow, often a notch; teeth shallow, narrow.

Flowers partly self-fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright.



Fruit late, keeps well. Clusters short, broad, tapering,

frequently single-shouldered, usually two bunches to shoot;

pedicel long, thick with numerous conspicuous warts; brush long,

slender, yellowish-brown. Berries very large, oval, pale red

covered with thin bloom, persistent; skin thin, tender, adherent,

faintly astringent; flesh pale green, translucent, tender with

Vinifera flavor; very good. Seeds adherent, one to three, large,

long, notched, blunt, brown.