SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 377 



•five feet from the ground and are cultivated twice during the sea- 

 son with a one-horse plow, the soil being quite free from weeds, 

 except an abundance of sandburs that are sometimes a protection 

 against intruders. The pruning is done during the fall, and the 

 vines are laid down and covered with wild hay, supplied from the 

 prairies close by. There are some seasons when this protection 

 may be unnecessary, but as the weather cannot be predicted, 

 we think it is safer even for the hardiest varieties. We have test- 

 ed many varieties; among the most successful are the Con- 

 cord, Martha, Delaware, Perkins, Hartford Prolific, Isabelle, 

 ■Catawba, several of the Roger's hybrid, and many others, but for 

 profit the Concord is yet the leader. Owing to the healthy quali- 

 ties of the soil, and with proper cares, we have very little trouble 

 with diseases. After many years of experience, a great deal of 

 perseverance and many disappointments, we have at last suc- 

 ceeded in raising fine crops. 



The next thing of importance is to dispose of the crop. Being 

 only 55 miles from Chicago, it is our main shipping point. Our 

 soil being warm and dry our fruits always mature a few days be- 

 fore other points on the same latitude, and about two weeks be- 

 fore Michigan fruits — we generally commence shipping as early 

 as August 15th. Hartford Prolific, Perkins and Martha, be- 

 ing the first varieties to ripen, are sold at a fair price, but they 

 cannot be disposed of in large quantities, the demand for these 

 varieties being limited. There are some new kinds of early grapes, 

 such as Moores' Early, which seem to be promising ; also Champion 

 and others. We do not know yet how they will be appreciated 

 on the market, but one decided fact is that one hundred baskets 

 of black grapes will sell more readily than ten baskets of white 

 ones; red grapes are also preferred to white ones. After the 

 earlier kinds come the Concord, the only grape yet known that 

 can be disposed of in large quantities and at a fair price, at the 

 same time come the Roger's hybrids. No. 4 being the finest 

 black grape grown here and No. 9 the most beautiful red; No. 15 

 and Salem are also very fine. All of these Roger's hybrids are 

 larger, more showy and of finer flavor than any other varieties. 

 ^Nevertheless they are not appreciated up to their full value on 

 the market. 



As fast as the crop ripens the ripest fruits are gathered and 

 hurried to the market. The first consignments (provided they 

 are sent to reliable commission houses) will realize about 60 to 75 

 cents per basket in small lots; transportation, commission and 

 packages to be deducted from these figures. The first shipments 

 of Concord will sell for about 50 to 60 cents per basket in any quan- 

 ity. It has to be shipped as fast as it ripens, as prices will de- 

 cline every day, and when Michigan fruit arrives the market will 

 very often drop down to 15 or 20 cents per basket; then we have 

 to stop shipping, Michigan growers having the benefit of cheap 



