Rochester


(Labrusca, Vinifera)



The fruit of Rochester is a large-clustered red grape, handsome and

very good in quality. The vine is a strong grower, productive and free

from diseases. The variety is difficult to propagate and, therefore,

not in favor with nurserymen. The grapes are sweet, rich and vinous

but should be used as soon as ripe, as they do not keep well and the

berries quickly shatter from the bunch. As
an attractive early red

grape, Rochester is worth a place in the garden and in favored

locations for a special market. Ellwanger and Barry, Rochester, New

York, in 1867 grew Rochester from mixed seed of Delaware, Diana,

Concord and Rebecca.



Vine vigorous, hardy, productive. Canes long, dark reddish-brown;

nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes short; tendrils

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

light green, glossy, smooth; lower surface grayish-green,

pubescent; lobes one to three with terminus acute; petiolar sinus

deep; basal sinus absent; lateral sinus shallow; teeth shallow.

Flowers fertile, mid-season; stamens upright.



Fruit does not keep well. Clusters large, broad, tapering, usually

single-shouldered, compact; pedicel short, slender with few warts;

brush slender, yellowish-brown. Berries medium, oval,

purplish-red, dull with thin, lilac bloom, drop from the

pedicel, soft; skin thick, tough, inclined to crack, free, without

pigment, astringent; flesh pale green, transparent, juicy, tender,

fine-grained, vinous, sweet; good to very good. Seeds free, one to

three, large, short, broad, dark brown.



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