88 Amo'ican Horticultural Socidij. 



yard planted twenty-eight years ago. The Society will have an opportunity 

 to test their quality. 



Forty years ago the Catawba ripened so late with us that only an occa- 

 sional vine was planted, as a doubtful cxporiTucnt. In time thoy have be 

 come acclimated until they now ripen before Isabellas and almost as soon as 

 Concords, thus duplicating the experience of Europe, where, as is well 

 known in Gaul and Germany, at the beginning of the Christian era, the cli- 

 mate was found too cold to ripen the grape. 



The question is often asked : Will not this constant increase of acreage 

 overstock the market with t^ible grapes and reduce them to an unprofitable 

 cultivation? It is not probable that this will be the case in sections where 

 grajjes do well, for they would pay to grow at two cents per pound for Con- 

 cords, three cents for CaUiwbas, and four cents for Delawares ; of course the 

 present prices, being at least 50 per cent, higher than this, pay much better; 

 about three tons per acre of Concord, bringing $70 to $.S0 per ton, or two 

 tons per acre of Catawba, bringing $100 to $120 per ton, or one and a half 

 tons of Delaware, bringing $1.S0 to $140 per ton, are considered only fair 

 crops with us. In many instances these figures are exceeded, but they may 

 be taken as an average of ten consecutive seasons. 



Thus it will be seen that the net proceeds of any of these varieties is from 

 $200 to .*250 per acre. Deducting the average cost of pruning, cultivating, 

 tying, etc., of $25 per acre, and the almost necessary $G to $7 for 200 to 300 

 pounds annually of bone dust per acre, still leaves a handsome profit of $200 

 per acre as a reward to the cultivator. 



Allow me, gentlemen, to suggest this matter of fertilizing the grape as a 

 subject for discussion. 



Another very important advantage in a grape crop is the length of time 

 they may continue on the vine after ripening, when, instead of deteriorating 

 like many other fruits, their quality is constantly improving. When mar- 

 kets are overstocked they will bide the time when wanted at better prices, 

 thus relieving any unnecessary pressure. 



Our country is large, its requirements great. As people become accus- 

 tomed to the use of such wholesome fruit, it will become a necessity for thenv, 

 to have grapes when furnished at reasonable prices. With the rapid and 

 unlimited means of transportation, every place can be supplied with this lus- 

 cious fruit, and the protluction will not be likely to e.xceed the increased 

 demand of an ever-increasing population. 



Nor is it too much to hope that future ages, like the present and the dis- 

 tant past, may look upon the grape, 



" Sabled by the solar beam, 

 Now tlie (iory clusters teem 

 In osier baskeUs, borne iiloiig 

 By all the festal vintage tlirong 

 Of rosy youths and virgins fair, 

 Ripe as the melting fruit they hc&T." —AiMcreon. 



