Hicks
(Labrusca)
Hicks is a remarkably good grape and were it not that the fruit is
almost identical with that of Concord, ripening with it or a little
earlier, it would have a place in the viticulture of the country.
However, since it was introduced some years ago and has not found
great favor with growers, it seems that it cannot make headway against
Concord, with which it must compete. In many localities the
vines are
more prolific than those of Concord and of stronger growth. Hicks was
introduced in 1898 by Henry Wallis, Wellston, Missouri, who states
that it is a chance seedling sent from California about 1870 to
Richard Berry, a nurseryman of St. Louis County, Missouri.
Vine very vigorous, hardy, very productive. Canes medium to long,
numerous, reddish-brown, covered with thin bloom; tendrils
continuous, bifid or trifid. Leaves large, thick; upper surface
dark green, glossy; lower surface white, changing to a heavy
bronze, strongly pubescent. Flowers self-fertile, open early;
stamens upright.
Fruit mid-season, keeps well. Clusters large, long, broad,
tapering, often single-shouldered. Berries large, round,
purplish-black with heavy bloom, shatter when over-ripe, firm;
skin tender with dark wine-colored pigment; flesh green, juicy,
tough, fine-grained, faintly foxy; good. Seeds adherent, large,
short, broad, blunt, brown.