BIG B CON (7). Beacon is another of Munson's hybrids, a cross between Labrusca and Lincecumii. It was received at this Station in 1892 and has borne fruit many times since so that there has been abundant opportunity to see grapes and vine. The variety is not especially well adapted to New York as the fruit is dull in color, lacking in quality, and shells somewhat badly. The vine is very vigorous, bearing a handsome, compact mass of foliage which retains its color and freshness throughout drouths and the heat of summer. In New York it must compete with Concord in commercial vineyards and since it does not equal that variety, taking its character as a whole, it cannot be recommended as a market grape. Its quality and appearance are such that it will never be largely grown by the amateur in the North. The variety, however, is of much interest and of possible value to the grape-breeder. Munson produced Beacon in 1887 from seed of Big Berry (a variety of Lincecumii) pollinated by Concord, securing the first fruit in 1889. The variety has been generally disseminated among grape specialists and experiment stations and is now well known by grape-growers in general. Vine a medium to very strong grower, not always hardy, productive. Canes short, medium to rather slender, light brown. Leaves healthy, variable in size, rather thick, inclined to dark green, sometimes rugose, with veins showing indistinctly through the slight pubescence of the lower surface. Flowers open in mid-season, on plan of five or six, nearly fertile. Fruit ripens with Concord or later and keeps fairly well. Clusters are attractive in general appearance, of good size, rather long, medium to slightly slender, cylindrical to somewhat tapering, usually single-shouldered, compact to medium. Berries medium but variable in size, roundish, purplish-black to black, dull in appearance, covered with heavy blue bloom, inclined to shell in some localities, moderately firm. Skin medium to thin, tough, adheres strongly to pulp, contains a large amount of purplish-red pigment, astringent. Flesh moderately tender, slightly aromatic, spicy, vinous, mildly subacid to agreeably tart, often with a noticeable Concord flavor, about as good as Concord in quality. Seeds separate easily from the pulp, large to above medium, of average length, broad, blunt to medium, slightly notched; raphe obscure; chalaza above center, irregularly circular to slightly oval. BEAUTY. (Labrusca, Vinifera, Bourquiniana?) =1.= Downing, =1881=:165 app. =2.= _Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1881=:163. =3.= _Mo. Hort. Soc. Rpt._, =1883=:43. =4.= _Kan. Sta. Bul._, =14=:85. 1890. =5.= _Bush. Cat._, =1894=:89. =6.= _Tex. Sta. Bul._, =48=:1149, 1153. 1898.