Jessica


(Labrusca, Vinifera)



Jessica is an early, hardy, green grape. The fruit is sweet, rich,

sprightly and almost free from foxiness, but is unattractive and does

not keep well. The clusters and berries are small, and the clusters

are too loose for a good grape. Jessica may be commended for earliness

and hardiness and is, therefore, desirable, if at all, in northern

regions. William H. Read, Port Dalhousie, On
ario, grew Jessica from

seed planted some time between 1870 and 1880.



Vine medium in vigor, healthy, hardy, productive. Canes long,

thick, dark brown with red tinge; nodes enlarged, flattened;

internodes short; tendrils continuous or intermittent, bifid or

trifid. Leaves small; upper surface dark green, glossy, often

rugose; lower surface pale green, very pubescent; lobes three;

petiolar sinus narrow; teeth shallow, narrow. Flowers

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



Fruit very early. Clusters small, slender, tapering, usually

single-shouldered. Berries small, round, light green, often tinged

with yellow, covered with thin bloom, persistent, soft; skin thin,

adherent, faintly astringent; flesh pale green, transparent,

juicy, tender, soft, sprightly, sweet; good. Seeds adherent,

medium to broad, notched, brown.



More

;