INDIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 199 



SO mucli difference, as it is very difficult to malie the majority of foreign 

 people understand that the best quality of grapes makes the best quality 

 of wine. 



The prices of grapes in Indiana, or at least in northern Indiana, 

 varies somewhat, according to variety and quality. For wine grapes 

 tney run from .$20 to .$40 per ton. and for fancy table grapes from two 

 to seven cents per pound. The number of tons produced upon an acre, 

 depends altogether on the kind of soil they are gTOAvn upon and in the 

 month in which they are pruned. Close pruning means fancy grapes 

 of best quality, while to deteriorate from this will bring small fruit of an 

 inferior quality. 



Now, with the possibilities and great advantages that we have in 

 our State, let us put forth our best efforts to grow this fine fruit. 



President Stevens: Next on the program is Mr. Brudi on the same 

 subject. 



POSSIBILITIES OF INDIANA GROWING GRAPES ON A 

 COMMERCIAL SCALE. 



BY .JOSEPH BRUDI, NEW HAVEN. 



The question is often asked. Is it possible to grow grapes in Indiana 

 on a commercial scale? To answer this question fairly would necessitate 

 a very careful study of the whole siibject. Grape culture depends upon 

 local conditions. The temperature, length of growing season, amount of 

 rainfall, altitude and soil, are all of primary importance. Grapes are 

 quite particular as to soil and cultivation. Although they can be grown 

 on almost any soil, to groAV them successfully on a large scale, they must 

 be planted on such soils as are most congenial to their growth. The best 

 soil for grapes is one which is fertile, but not excessively rich in humus. 

 A dry, calcareous, sandy loam that is underlaid by a loose, porous sub- 

 soil, not easily affected by drought and does not contain springs, is the 

 best. Fuller says: "The mechanical texture of the soil has more to do . 

 with success or failure than the ingredients which it contains." Indiana 

 has the soil to grow grapes. Perhaps many of them are lacking in fer- 

 tility; others may be lacking in the proper fertility most congenial to 

 grapes; in others the texture may be bad. This can all be very easily 

 remedied and make them to grow some of the finest grapes. 



Selection of site for the vineyard is also of gi-eat importance to com- 

 mercial grape growing. The grape does best on high tablelands, remote 

 from standing water, on hillsides, sloping to the south and southeast. 

 Preferably near large bodies of water, because such situations are usually 

 exempt from late spring and early fall fi'osts, and the mist arising from 



