Narrative
Type = American Hybrid. Per U.P. Hedrick (see citation): "Vine medium to vigorous, hardy, not a heavy yielder . . . Leaves large to medium, thick; upper surface dark green, dull, of average smoothness . . . Flowers fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright. Fruit ripens from two to three weeks earlier than Concord, does not keep well. Clusters intermediate in size, length, and breadth, irregularly cylindrical to tapering, sometimes single-shouldered, inclined to looseness . . . Berries large to above medium, roundish, dark purplish-black to black, covered with abundant blue bloom, not very persistent, nearly firm. Skin intermediate in thickness, tender, adherent to the pulp, contains dark purplish-red pigment, not astringent. Flesh greenish, translucent, juicy, fine-grained and tough, with slight foxiness, sweet next the skin but somewhat acid at center, fair to good in quality." Per T.V. Munson (see citation): "Originated from Concord seed, and introduced in 1877. Its vine greatly resembles Concord, but is less vigorous, very healthy and the fruit not attacked by black rot so much, nor does it crack. Bunch medium, compact, little shouldered; berry is very large, black, persistent to pedicel, skin tougher than in Concord; pulp still firmer than Concord, but yet much the best black Labrusca variety ripening at that time, which is very early, soon after Champion. Not valuable for the extreme South, but much liked as an early market grape in the North."