Northern Muscadine
(Labrusca)
That this variety, together with Lucile, Lutie and other grapes with
the foxy taste strongly marked, has not become popular, in spite of
good vine characters, is evidence that the American public do not
desire such grapes. In appearance of fruit, Northern Muscadine is much
like Lutie, the two being distinguished from other grapes by an
unmistakable odor. A serious defect of the fruit is that th
berries
shatter badly as soon as they reach maturity. Taken as a whole, the
vine characters of this variety are very good and offer possibilities
for the grape-breeder. The variety originated at New Lebanon, New
York, and was brought to notice by D. J. Hawkins and Philemon Stewart
of the Society of Shakers about 1852.
Vine vigorous, productive, healthy, hardy. Canes slender, dark
brown, heavily pubescent; tendrils continuous, bifid, dehisce
early. Leaves large, round, thick; upper surface dull, rugose;
lower surface dark bronze, heavily pubescent. Flowers
self-fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright.
Fruit early mid-season, does not keep well. Clusters medium in
size, short, occasionally single-shouldered, compact. Berries
large, oval, dark amber with thin bloom, drop badly from the
pedicel; skin tough, adherent, astringent; flesh pale green,
juicy, fine-grained, tender, soft, very foxy, sweet; poor in
quality. Seeds free, numerous, large, broad, faintly notched,
long, brown.