Narrative
Type = American Hybrid. Per U.P. Hedrick (see citation): "Vine vigorous, healthy, hardy, produces average crops . . . Leaves large, thick, upper surface dark green, glossy, smooth to slightly rugose; lower surface tinged with heavy bronze, with some pubescence. Flowers fertile, open medium early; stamens upright . . . Fruit ripens one or two weeks earlier than Concord, does not keep well. Clusters above medium to smal, below average length, moderately broad, cylindrical to slightly tapering, sometimes single-shouldered, rather compact; peduncle somewhat long, intermediate in size; pedicel short, thick, covered with few, inconspicuous, small warts, wide at point of attachment to berry; brush dark red. Berries of average size, roundish, dull black, not glossy, covered with heavy blue bloom, drop badly from pedicel, firm. Skin rather thick, somewhat tender, slightly adherent to pulp, contains considerable dark purplish-red pigment, slightly astringent. Flesh juicy, tough, rather solid, foxy, agreeably sweet next to the skin, tart at seeds, good to medim." Per Munson (see citation): "Cottage is a sister of Concord, grown by Mr. E. W. Bull. It is similiar in appearance to Concord, but is smaller in cluster, and drops its berries more freely, spoiling it for market. It does not crack and rot so badly; it is less prolific and a little earlier, but not so good in quality. It is now generally discarded." Information taken from http:\\www.wine-lovers-page.com\wineguest\wgg.html: "Vigorous and hardy, it ripens some one to two weeks before its main parent to give average size dull-black berries that are far less foxy in taste. Requires good soil, the variety lacking somewhat in adaptability. Recommended as a disease resistant cultivar for the state of Arkansas."