26 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



years old are as vigorous and productive as ever, and if not so profitable 

 as they were years ago it is from no fault of the vines. Formerly it 

 was not unusual to sell the tirst shipments of the season of Delaware 

 grapes for 60 to 75 cents per basket of five pounds each ; and for single 

 vines to net |2. 



There are other red grapes that are quite satisfactory, though not of 

 equal merit with Delaware. Perhaps the most worthy of these with 

 reference to general cultivation, are Brighton, Jefferson, and Salem may 

 be added, in limited quantity. Brighton is of good quality, a fair bearer, 

 is early, and sells well. Jefferson is later, one of the latest of the season. 

 In fact, it may be left until snow comes and still be in good condition 

 for market. It is a uniform bearer, of good (piality, hardy, and sells 

 well. Salem on high ground in good soil, with good care, is a profitable 

 grape; one of the handsomest and best for table and market. 



Bv far the best of the white grapes for general use is Niagara. I 

 have a Niagara vineyard of 500 vines that has been set sixteen years, 

 and while it has not equalled my expectations in matter of profit, it has 

 paid fairly well as comjtared with other varieties. The Niagara grape 

 is exceedingly variable in quality. Some vines will, perhaps, have fruit 

 that is very good and others at the same time that is quite the reverse 

 in quality.' The same is true of clusters. Sometimes, on the same vine, 

 where the fruit is well ripened it hangs well and is agreeable to the 

 taste and holds its flavor to the last. The vine is a very strong grower 

 and stands our severe winters in southern Michigan admirably. Of the 

 white grapes it is the one for the vineyard ]»ar excellence. An early 

 white grape worthy of consideration is Moore's Dianumd. I have lately 

 planted it quite largely, after giving it something of a test. 



High rolling lauds are best for vineyards; lands with sandy, gravelly, 

 slightly loamy soil. On such lands, in southern ^lichigan. the kinds of 

 grape I have mentioned are as sure as wheat or corn. Frosts will some- 

 times injure them, but not more often than other crops are so affected. 

 I In the production of any crop, certainty, or the nearest we can attain 

 to that desideratum, is an important consideration, and therefore in 

 the cultivation of the grape in the interior of the state low lands are 

 TO be avoided. Only the hills, the high lands, should be chosen. It 

 sometimes happens that vineyards on the low lands will yield a full 

 crop of fruit, but ])erhai)s as often they will not. There is certainly 

 an equal likelihood of failure, and the quality of the fruit when it is 

 produced will be inferior. Soil and location have much to do with the 

 quality of the fruit, and it is unfortunate and distressing to have all 

 the labor and expense of caring for a vineyard and have no return. 

 The failure of the crop is a serious set back to most producers. The 

 importance of elevation, of suitable location, is very apparent in this 

 vicinity at the present time. In the latter part of May there were 

 several quite severe frosts which injured the grape vines on low lands, 

 in whole or in part destroying the young clusters of fruit. Fortunately. 

 by far the greater portion are so situated as to have wholly escaped 

 injury. But there is enough to point 1he lesson. 



In raising gra])es commercially, the matter of situation with reference 

 to market impresses itself upon the attention now as never before, for 

 the reason that the vastly increased production has reduced the price 

 of grapes to so great an extent that nearness to market or the cost and 

 ease of trans|)or(ation to nuirket have beconu^ \eiy important factors. 



