Narrative
Type = American Hybrid. Per Hedrick (see citation): "Vine vigorous to very vigorous, healthy, hardy, productive to very productive. Leaves small to medium, somewhat thin. Flowers fertile, open very early. Fruit ripens slightly earlier than Concord although it colors much earlier, keeps well. Clusters medium to small, short, of average breadth, cylindrical to tapering, usually single-shouldered, compact. Berries intermediate in size, roundish to slightly oval, dull black, covered with rather heavy blue bloom, usually persistent, firm. Skin thick, medium to nearly tough, adheres slightly to the pulp., contains considerable dark wine-colored pigment, astringent. Flesh pale reddish-green, translucent, juicy, very tough, rather coarse, vinous, sweet next to the skin but quite acid at the center, fair in quality." Per Bushburg Catalogue (see citation): "An early black grape, largely plated in Iowa and Wisconsin, but further south now generally discarded for better varieties. Vine a vigorous grower, hardy, healthy, and productive; bunch medium, short, and compact; berry medium to alrge, black; skin thick; flesh pulpy; quite acid; quality about like Hartford; colors even earlier than this variety, but fully ripe at about same time."