Mills

(Labrusca, Vinifera)



The bunches and berries of Mills are large and well-formed; the

berries are firm and solid, with the skin adherent as in Viniferas;

the flesh is juicy and parts readily from the seeds; the flavor is

rich, sweet and vinous; and the grapes are hardly surpassed in keeping

quality. But when the fruit characters of Mills have been praised,

nothing further can be said in its favor. The vine are neither

vigorous, hardy nor fruitful and are very subject to mildew; neither

wood nor roots ripen well in the North in average seasons; and the

variety is a most difficult one for nurserymen to grow. Mills is of

doubtful commercial value, but for the garden it is possible that the

grower may be able to graft it to advantage on some variety with

better vine characters. William H. Mills, Hamilton, Ontario, grew

Mills about 1870 from seed of Muscat Hamburg fertilized by Creveling.



Vine medium in vigor, hardiness and productiveness. Canes long,

thick, light brown; nodes enlarged, flattened; tendrils

intermittent, bifid or trifid. Leaves large, thick; upper surface

dark green, dull, rugose; lower surface pale green, cobwebby;

lobes three to five with terminus acute; petiolar sinus

intermediate in depth and width; basal and lateral sinuses deep

and wide; teeth deep. Flowers self-fertile, open in mid-season;

stamens upright.



Fruit mid-season, keeps well. Clusters large, long, slender,

cylindrical, often double-shouldered, compact; pedicel slender

with numerous, small warts; brush long, wine-colored. Berries

large, oval, jet-black with abundant bloom, persistent, firm; skin

thick, tough, adherent; flesh light green, translucent, juicy,

rich, tender, sprightly, vinous, sweet; very good to best. Seeds

free, one to three, large, brown.