Vine not very vigorous, nearly hardy, unproductive. Canes short, few in number, rather slender; tendrils continuous, bifid to trifid. Leaves medium to below in size, intermediate in thickness; lower surface grayish-white to bronze, heavily pubescent. Flowers semi-fertile, open in mid-season; stamens upright. Fruit ripens shortly before Concord, does not keep very well. Clusters medium to large, tapering, slightly shouldered, moderately compact. Berries large to medium, roundish to slightly oval, dull black covered with abundant blue bloom, persistent. Skin medium to thick, tender. Flesh very pale green, unusually juicy, fine-grained, rather tender, vinous, sweet, good in quality. Seeds not numerous, nearly large, very broad, blunt, plump. HYBRID FRANC. (Vinifera, Rupestris.) =1.= _Am. Vines_, =1903=:190. FRANC'S HYBRID (1). Hybrid Franc is illustrated and described in full in _The Grapes of New York_ because it is the best known cross between Rupestris and Vinifera. It is one of the few varieties used in Europe as a resistant stock now recommended for a direct producer. The vine characters are seemingly all good,--hardy, vigorous and very productive. The fruit is fit only for wine being too acid for a table grape. The coloring matter in the fruit is very intense and it might be used for giving color to wines. Hybrid Franc is of much interest to the grape-breeder, and experiments with it as a parent are desirable for New York. The variety is of French origin. Vine vigorous, hardy, productive. Canes variable in length, numerous, thick to medium, light brown, covered with slight blue bloom; nodes enlarged, roundish; internodes very short; diaphragm thin; pith unusually large; shoots glabrous; tendrils intermittent, often rather long, bifid to trifid. Leaf-buds large to medium, short, above average thickness, obtuse to conical, open moderately late. Young leaves tinged on upper and lower sides with carmine; the tips of the buds in opening show strongly the leaf serrations. Leaves very small to medium, rather thin; upper surface light green, decidedly glossy, smooth; lower surface greenish, showing Riparia characters, quite hairy along ribs and larger veins; lobes usually three to five with terminal lobe acute to acuminate; petiolar sinus intermediate in depth, narrow to medium, sometimes closed and overlapping; basal sinus of average depth and width; lateral sinus medium in depth to a mere notch; teeth intermediate in depth and width. Flowers semi-fertile, open early; stamens upright.