Rogers' Hybrids
Encyclopedia
Rogers' Hybrids are a group of 45 grape seedlings, thirteen of them named as cultivars, developed by Edward Staniford Rogers of Salem, Massachusetts
, in the mid-19th century. Although mostly gone from cultivation now, their success, along with that of the Concord grape
, inspired many amateurs to try grape breeding, resulting in massive proliferation in the number of grape cultivars in the eastern United States and Canada.
Despite this impressive impact, Rogers' hybrids are the product of only two crosses. Rogers pollinated a vine of Vitis labrusca
, known locally as Carter or Mammoth Globe, with pollen from two European Vitis vinifera
grapes, Black Hamburg and White Chasselas, being cultivated under glass nearby. He planted the resulting seeds in his garden, and the next spring approximately 150 germinated, but cutworms and other pests and accidents reduced their number to forty-five. Numbers one through five, and fifteen through forty-five, were from the cross Carter x Black Hamburg, while numbers six through fourteen were from Carter x White Chasselas.
Rogers' garden was only half an acre in the center of the city of Salem, and the grapevines shared it was apples, pears, and currants. As a result, he was unable to test his hybrids on his own. Instead, he numbered each hybrid and sent cuttings to interested fruit growers and horticulturists. A number of them were identified as having fruit quality superior to that of the native vines while being better adapted to North American conditions than the European cultivars. Unfortunately, problems during the dissemination of these vines resulted in confusion of certain selection numbers, and a few hybrids were assigned new numbers, and as a result a few selections bore numbers greater than 45.
In 1867, Rogers' named one selection, Rogers' No. 22 or 53, Salem, after his hometown. A few years later, the Lake Shore Grape Growers Association requested that he name several others, and Rogers obliged, naming another twelve selections, primarily after local place names or prominent scientists and writers. The named cultivars are listed below. Only Agawam is currently cultivated to a small extent.
Rogers' No. 3 - Massasoit
Rogers' No. 4 - Wilder
Rogers' No. 9 - Lindley
Rogers' No. 14 - Gaertner
Rogers' No. 15 - Agawam
Rogers' No. 19 - Merrimac
Rogers' No. 28 - Requa
Rogers' No. 39 - Aminia
Rogers' No. 41 - Essex
Rogers' No. 43 - Barry
Rogers' No. 44 - Herbert
Rogers' No. 22/53 - Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
, in the mid-19th century. Although mostly gone from cultivation now, their success, along with that of the Concord grape
Concord grape
Concord grapes are a cultivar derived from the grape species Vitis labrusca which are used as table grapes, wine grapes and juice grapes....
, inspired many amateurs to try grape breeding, resulting in massive proliferation in the number of grape cultivars in the eastern United States and Canada.
Despite this impressive impact, Rogers' hybrids are the product of only two crosses. Rogers pollinated a vine of Vitis labrusca
Vitis labrusca
Vitis labrusca is a species of grapevines belonging to the Vitis genus in the flowering plant family Vitaceae. The vines are native to the eastern United States and are the source of many grape cultivars, including Catawba and Concord grapes, and many hybrid grape varieties such as Agawam,...
, known locally as Carter or Mammoth Globe, with pollen from two European Vitis vinifera
Vitis vinifera
Vitis vinifera is a species of Vitis, native to the Mediterranean region, central Europe, and southwestern Asia, from Morocco and Portugal north to southern Germany and east to northern Iran....
grapes, Black Hamburg and White Chasselas, being cultivated under glass nearby. He planted the resulting seeds in his garden, and the next spring approximately 150 germinated, but cutworms and other pests and accidents reduced their number to forty-five. Numbers one through five, and fifteen through forty-five, were from the cross Carter x Black Hamburg, while numbers six through fourteen were from Carter x White Chasselas.
Rogers' garden was only half an acre in the center of the city of Salem, and the grapevines shared it was apples, pears, and currants. As a result, he was unable to test his hybrids on his own. Instead, he numbered each hybrid and sent cuttings to interested fruit growers and horticulturists. A number of them were identified as having fruit quality superior to that of the native vines while being better adapted to North American conditions than the European cultivars. Unfortunately, problems during the dissemination of these vines resulted in confusion of certain selection numbers, and a few hybrids were assigned new numbers, and as a result a few selections bore numbers greater than 45.
In 1867, Rogers' named one selection, Rogers' No. 22 or 53, Salem, after his hometown. A few years later, the Lake Shore Grape Growers Association requested that he name several others, and Rogers obliged, naming another twelve selections, primarily after local place names or prominent scientists and writers. The named cultivars are listed below. Only Agawam is currently cultivated to a small extent.
Rogers' hybrids
Rogers' No. 1 - GoetheGoethe (grape)
Goethe is one of the collection of grape varieties known as Rogers' Hybrids, created by E.S. Rogers in the mid-19th century, and is the result of a cross of Carter, a selection of Vitis labrusca, and Black Hamburg , a selection of Vitis vinifera. It was originally known as Rogers No...
Rogers' No. 3 - Massasoit
Massasoit (grape)
Massasoit is one of the collection of hybrid grape varieties known as Rogers' Hybrids, created by E.S. Rogers in the mid-19th century, and is the result of a cross of Carter, a selection of Vitis labrusca, and Black Hamburg , a selection of Vitis vinifera...
Rogers' No. 4 - Wilder
Rogers' No. 9 - Lindley
Rogers' No. 14 - Gaertner
Rogers' No. 15 - Agawam
Agawam (grape)
Agawam is a hybrid grape variety. It is a crossing of Carter and Muscat Hamburg . Agawam is one of the so-called Rogers' Hybrids created by E.S...
Rogers' No. 19 - Merrimac
Rogers' No. 28 - Requa
Requa (grape)
Requa is one of the lesser known members of the collection of grape varieties known as Rogers' Hybrids, created by E.S. Rogers in the mid-19th century, and is the result of a cross of Carter, a selection of Vitis labrusca, and Black Hamburg , a selection of Vitis vinifera...
Rogers' No. 39 - Aminia
Rogers' No. 41 - Essex
Rogers' No. 43 - Barry
Rogers' No. 44 - Herbert
Herbert (grape)
Herbert is one of the collection of grape varieties known as Rogers' Hybrids, created by E.S. Rogers in the mid-19th century, and is the result of a cross of Carter, a selection of Vitis labrusca, and Black Hamburg , a selection of Vitis vinifera. It was originally known as Rogers No...
Rogers' No. 22/53 - Salem