Like that of its
parent, the fruit is of good quality and keeps remarkably well. This
seedling is now grown more than Isabella and, while not of any
considerable commercial importance, is far more deserving attention as
a market grape than some of the poorly flavored kinds more generally
grown. There are several varieties under this name. Two are mentioned
by Warder; one of Ohio and one of New York origin. The Isabella
Seedling here described originated with G. A. Ensenberger,
Bloomington, Illinois, in 1889.

Vine vigorous, healthy, hardy, productive. Canes long, thick, dark
brown, often with a red tinge, with thin bloom; nodes prominent,
flattened; internodes long; tendrils intermittent or continuous,
bifid. Leaves healthy, large, thick; upper surface green, dull;
lower surface pale green or grayish-green, occasionally with a
tinge of bronze, pubescent. Flowers self-fertile; stamens upright.

Fruit early, keeps well. Clusters large, long, slender,
cylindrical, usually single-shouldered, loose, compact. Berries
large, oval, often pear-shaped, dull black with thick bloom,
persistent, soft; skin thick with some red pigment; flesh pale
green, juicy, tender, coarse, vinous; good. Seeds numerous, free,
large, broad, notched, dark brown.

ISRAELLA

(Labrusca, Vinifera)

Israella came from C. W. Grant contemporaneously with Iona and was
heralded as the earliest good grape in cultivation. For several years
after its introduction, it was widely tried but was almost everywhere
discarded because of the poor quality and unattractive appearance of
the fruit and lack of vigor, hardiness and productiveness in the vine.
Grant grew Israella from seed of Isabella planted in 1885.

Vine lacking in vigor, unproductive. Canes slender, dark brown;
nodes enlarged, flattened; internodes short; tendrils continuous,
bifid. Leaves large; upper surface light green, dull, rugose;
lower surface pale green, pubescent; lobes one to five, faint;
petiolar sinus deep, narrow; teeth shallow, sharp; stamens
upright.

Fruit late, keeps well. Clusters large, of medium length and
breadth, tapering, often single-shouldered, compact, frequently
with many abortive fruits. Berries of medium size, round-oval,
black or purplish-black with thin bloom, inclined to drop, soft;
skin thick, tough with a large amount of purplish-red pigment;
flesh pale green, juicy