Herbert is one of the collection of grape varieties known as Rogers' Hybrids, created by Edward Staniford Rogers (of Salem, Massachusetts,) in the mid-19th century, and is the result of a cross of Carter, a selection of Vitis labrusca, and Black Hamburg (there are two varieties known by this name, but in this case it was probably Schiava Grossa), a selection of Vitis vinifera.[1][2] It was originally known as Rogers No. 44.
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 Photographic plate of Herbert grape from the book The Grapes of New York, 1908 by Ulysses Prentiss Hedrick |
Herbert is female, and thus requires a second grape variety as a pollen source. Even then, Herbert tends towards straggly, poorly filled clusters. The black fruit ripens with Concord and keeps well. Although never extensively cultivated, it was a favorite of amateurs in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Hedrick considered the quality, at its best, to rival that of its vinifera parent.
References
edit- ^ Hedrick, Ulysses Prentiss; Booth, Nathaniel Ogden (1908). The grapes of New York. Albany : J.B. Lyon Co., State printers. pp. 291–293.
- ^ Hedrick, U. P. (1919). Manual of American Grape-growing. Macmillan. pp. 383–384.
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