EXPERIMENTS IN GRAPE GROWING 133 



Century in particular seems to have in 1849. Near the place where this 

 had the least interest in grape growing seedling was grown was a Catawba, 

 from the wild American grapes. In The wild vine was exposed to cross- 

 the literature of that century there are fertilization. , From this came the seed- 

 fewer references to the possibility of ling named the Concord. Here is cir- 

 successful grape culture than there are cumstantial evidence that the Concord 

 in the Seventeenth. This is probably contains Catawba blood. From the 

 due to the fact that the experiments time wdien the Concord was first placed 

 with foreign grapes had failed, and it on the market, its success has been 

 seems never to have dawned on any phenomenal. Nothing else in all the 

 one that the failure of these foreign history of grape culture has equaled it. 

 grapes argued well for the success of Ephraim W. Bull was born in 1805 

 our native species- One can but pause and died in 1895. His ninety years 

 again to philosophize on the obtuseness were spent in the quiet of his Concord 

 of mankind. Here time and money home, and he would have remained un- 

 had for two hundred years been spent known by others than his neighbors, 

 in vain in trying to grow foreign who loved and honored him, had it not 

 grapes, yet the woods and fields were been for his fortunate discovery of the 

 full of native grapes. What in heaven's Concord grape. But, alas, the sarcasm 

 name, wdiat in the name of common of events is such that the grape which 

 sense, was the trouble with them? has added immensely to the wealth of 

 Grape growing in the Eastern United this nation brought to its originator 

 States may be summed up in one word scarcely a year's competence. Every 

 'failure,' until the Honorable Ephriam one that eats a grape should cherish a 

 W.Bull set up an entirely new landmark kindly thought for Mr. Bull. The Con- 

 when he developed American grape cul- cord, while it is so successful, yet has 

 ture. The Concord grape is first re- many imperfections as a grape. But 

 corded in 1852 by the Massachusetts there is compensation for these in the 

 Horticultural Society as a seedling ex- fact that it grows in enormous quanti- 

 hibited by E. W. Bull. Its history ties anywhere and everywhere. Many 

 reads like a romance. At present it things might be said in criticism of 

 is used almost exclusively in the great the Concord. It has faults but it has 

 Chautauqua grape growing belt of New earned its phenomenal success by its 

 York for the making of grape juice and astonishing prolificness in production 

 is grown for the table everywhere in In really high quality for the table 

 the fields and gardens. From it have the standard of all American grapes is 

 been obtained a considerable number the Delaware. It is undoubtedly the 

 of valuable varieties of American grape par excellence. Its introduction 

 grapes, including the Worden, the raised the standard of quality of our 

 Early Moore, the Pocklington, the viticulture to that of the Old World. 

 Martha and the Cottage. The Concord There is no variety of Vitis vinifera 

 succeeds on a greater diversity of soil more richly or more delicately flavored, 

 than any other variety. In the Chau- or with a more delicious fragrance, 

 tauqua grape region there are six than the Delaware- Next to the Con- 

 dift'erent types of soil on which grapes cor d it undoubtedly is our most popu- 

 are grown and on each the Concord is ] ar grape for garden, vineyard or wine 

 the leading variety. As Horace Greely press. Contrary to general supposition 

 said, the Concord is preeminently "the it has nothing 'to do with the state of 

 grape for the millions." It can be pro- Delaware, but originated in the little 

 duced so cheaply that no other can town of Delaware in Ohio, and was 

 compete with it in the markets. Near- first brought to notice by a local paper 

 ly all grape juice that may be purchased Q f that town in 1849. Jt immediately 

 almost anywhere in the country at the attracted attention and the horticultural 

 present time is made from the Concord journals were filled with conflicting ac- 

 grapes- counts of its history and with discus- 

 The seed of a wild grape was planted sions of its botany, and in 1856 it was 

 in the field in 1843 by E W. Bull of placed on the fruit catalogue of the 

 Concord, Massachusetts. It bore fruit American Pomological Society. There 



