t,
astringent; flesh pale green, translucent, juicy, tender,
fine-grained, faintly aromatic, slightly foxy; good to very good.
Seeds free, one to six, medium in size, plump, brown.

VERDAL

(Vinifera)

_Aspiran Blanc_

Verdal is one of the standard late grapes of the Pacific slope,
ripening among the last. The grapes are seen seldom in distant markets
and the quality is not quite good enough to make it a very great
favorite for home plantations. Vigor and hardiness of vines commend it
as do the large and handsome fruits, and these qualities, with late
ripening, will probably long keep it on grape lists in the far West.
The description is compiled.

Vines vigorous, hardy, healthy and productive; canes rather
slender, half erect. Leaves of medium size, glabrous on both
surfaces, except below near the axis of the main nerve; sinuses
well marked and generally closed, giving the leaf the appearance
of having five holes; teeth long, unequal, acuminate. Bunches
large to very large, irregular, long-conical, usually compact;
shoulders small or lacking; berries large or very large,
yellowish-green; skin thick but tender; flesh crisp, firm; flavor
agreeable but not rich; quality good. Season very late, keeping
and shipping well.

VERGENNES

(Labrusca)

The most valuable attribute of Vergennes (Plate XXIX) is certainty in
bearing. The vine seldom fails to bear although it often overbears,
causing variability in size of fruits and time of ripening. With a
moderate crop, the grapes ripen with Concord, but with a heavy load
from one to two weeks later. Vergennes is somewhat unpopular with
vineyardists because of the sprawling habit of the vines which makes
them untractable for vineyard operations; this fault is obviated by
grafting on other vines. The grapes are attractive, the quality is
good, flavor agreeable, the flesh tender, and seeds and skin are not
objectionable. Vergennes is the standard late-keeping grape for
northern regions, being very common in the markets as late as January.
The original vine was a chance seedling in the garden of William E.
Greene, Vergennes, Vermont, in 1874.

Vine variable in vigor, doubtfully hardy, productive, healthy.
Canes long, dark brown; nodes enlarged, strongly flattened;
tendrils continuous, long, bifid or trifid. Leaves large, thin;
upper surface light green, glossy, rugose; lower surface pale
green, v