For an account of the origin and parentage of Essex see "Rogers' Hybrids." Essex, then known as _Rogers' No. 41_, is first mentioned separately from the other hybrids about 1865. There appears to have been some confusion in the numbers, as some of the early describers speak of the grape as red, others black. The name Essex was given by Mr. Rogers in 1869, in honor of Essex County, Massachusetts. The same year it was placed on the grape list of the American Pomological Society fruit catalog, where it was retained until 1895, when it was dropped. It is still to be found in many varietal vineyards but is now offered for sale by but few nurserymen. Vine vigorous, not always hardy, produces good crops. Canes vigorous, intermediate in number and thickness; tendrils continuous to intermittent, trifid to bifid. Leaves medium to above in size, irregularly roundish; lower surface thinly pubescent. Flowers sterile or nearly so, open in mid-season or slightly later; stamens reflexed. Fruit ripens about with Concord or slightly later, an excellent keeper, in good condition some seasons until February. Clusters medium to nearly large, broad with a rather small, short, single shoulder, usually compact. Berries large to above medium, roundish to oval, frequently compressed, dark purplish-black, covered with abundant blue bloom, not firm. Flesh moderately tender and soft, vinous, sweet next the skin to acid at center, agreeable in flavor, good to very good in quality. Seeds large, long, often with enlarged neck; chalaza small, frequently with shallow, radiating furrows, strongly above center. ESTER. (Labrusca.) =1.= _An. Hort._, =1889=:101. =2.= _Rural N. Y._, =51=:686, 863. 1892. =3.= _Bush. Cat._, =1894=:125. =4.= _N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt._, =14=:279. 1895. =5.= _Ib._, =17=:530, 548, 555. 1898. =6.= _Mich. Sta. Bul._, =194=:57. 1901. =7.= _Kan. Sta. Bul._, =110=:239. 1902. Ester is a white seedling of Concord, whether pure-bred or cross-bred is not known, which resembles its parent in vine and in flavor of fruit. It has several defects which make it less valuable than many other better known white grapes and is therefore not recommended for New York. Its defects appear in the description given below. The variety was originated by E. W. Bull of Concord, Massachusetts, from seed of Concord. It was introduced by George S. Josselyn of Fredonia, New York, in 1889. Bull named this variety in honor of his mother who spelled her name Ester, in the old New England way, and not "Esther" as commonly found in grape literature.