Lutie
(Labrusca)
Lutie (Plate XXIII) is chiefly valuable for its vine characters. The
vines are vigorous, hardy, healthy and fruitful, although scarcely
equaling Lucile in any of these characters. Pomologists differ widely
as to the merits of the fruit, some claiming high quality for it and
others declaring that it is no better than a wild Labrusca. The
difference of opinion is due to a peculiarity of the fruit
if eaten
fresh, the quality, while far from being of the best, is not bad, but
after being picked for several days it develops so much foxiness of
flavor and aroma that it is scarcely edible. Lutie is a seedling found
by L. C. Chisholm, Spring Hill, Tennessee. It was introduced in 1885.
Vine vigorous, hardy, healthy, productive. Canes short, slender,
dark reddish-brown; nodes enlarged; internodes short; tendrils
continuous, short, bifid. Leaves medium in size; upper surface
dark green, rugose; lower surface bronze or whitish-green,
pubescent; leaf usually not lobed with terminus acute; petiolar
sinus deep, wide; basal sinus lacking; lateral sinus shallow and
narrow when present; teeth shallow, narrow. Flowers self-fertile,
early; stamens upright.
Fruit early, does not keep well. Clusters medium in size, short,
broad, blunt, cylindrical, usually not shouldered, compact;
pedicel short with small, scattering warts; brush slender, pale
green. Berries large, round, dark red, dull with thin bloom, drop
badly from pedicel, firm; skin tender, adherent, astringent; flesh
pale green, translucent, juicy, tough, foxy; fair in quality.
Seeds adherent, one to four, large, broad, short and blunt, dark
brown.