Agawam GrapeAGAWAM

The vulnerability of European 'noble grapes' to the multitude of pests and pathogens that thrived in North America, caused viticulturists to cross-breed native grapes, with well developed resistances to diseases and insects to various vulnerable Vitis vinefera varieties.  Among the greatest of the hybridizers was Edward Sandifer Rogers of New York who released several dozen grapes during the course of his long career.  Agawan was #15 of his releases, a labrusca x vinefera grape.  It proved to be the most popular of Rogers's many strains, a large bunched, richly sweet and aromatic variety with great eye appeal because of the neatness of the cluster and tint of the berries. Important to American growers was the vigor of the vine and its ability to self-fertilize. There was a hint of labrusca foxiness in the flavor, and a thick skin (one of the protections of Native grapes against insect predation), that upset that contengent of vineyard growers whose aesthetics of taste and texture were entirely shaped by European varieties.  Introduced in 1861 and placed on the American Pomological Society grape list in 1867, it became a market table grape.  

"Fruit ripens soon after Concord, keeps until mid-winter.  Clusters variable averaging medium to large, short, rather broad, tapering to somewhat cylindrical, sometimes single-shouldered, somewhat loose; peduncle medium to short, nearly thick; pedicel of average length, usually thick, covered with few warts, much enlarged at point of oval, dark and dull purplish-red somewhat resembling Catawba, covered with lilac bloom very persistent.  Skin thick, tough, adheres slightly to the pulp, contains no pigment, somewhat astringent.  Flesh pale green, translucent, tough, slightly stringy, rather solid, foxy, good in quality." Ulysses Hedrick, Grapes of New York (1913), 160. 

The Agawam was offered by the following nurseries in the South prior to 1920:

Alabama Nursery, Huntsville, AL 1900.  Atlanta Nursery, Atlanta, GA 1891-1901.  Bluegrass Nursery, Lexington, KY 1909.  Clingman Nursery, Kiethville, LA 1908.  Colmant Nurseries & Orchard, West End, AL 1904. Comol Springs, Dallas, TX 1894. Dixie Garden, Chatanooga, TN 1907.  Downer Nursery, Fairview, KY 1870.  Frederick Nursery, Frederick, MD 1897.  Fruitlands, Augusta, GA 1885-1911.  Geraty Nursery, Yonges Island, SC 1907. Hales Southern Valley, Fort Valley, GA 1897.  Kentucky Nursery, Louisville, KY 1897. Munson Hill Nursery, Falls Church, VA 1897-1908.  Old Dominion Nursery, Richmond, VA 1894-1907. Orlando Nursery, Orlando, FL 1894. Somerset Nursery, Somerset, MD 1897.  

Image: Hedrick, Grapes of New York.  

David S. Shields