INDIANA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 201 



and then spray at the proper time and with the proper material. The 

 grower must exercise judgment and care in the preparation and applica- 

 tion of the materials. Soon the grapes will have grown to maturity, and 

 the next thing to do is to market them profitably. Grapes should not be 

 picked until they are perfectly ripe, but should be left on the vines until 

 the stem of the cluster has turned to a brownish hue. The finest qualities 

 of the grape are only fully developed in the perfectly matured fruit. 

 Grapes should be gathered in fair weather, when the dew is off. The 

 cluster should be cut from the vine with a sharp knife or scissors, being 

 careful not to injure the bloom. They should be picked into shallow 

 trays, and after being graded and all imperfect and diseased fruit is re- 

 moved, packed into shallow trays for local market, and eight to ten-pound 

 Climax baskets for shipping. In packing, the bunches should be placed 

 with the stems downward, and the whole packed snugly and of a uniform 

 grade. The name of the variety, as well as that of the grower, should 

 be stamped on the package. The grower must pack his grapes in such 

 a manner as to atti-act the attention of the purchaser, and pack only 

 uniformly good grapes. They will establish a reputation and command 

 the best prices, while the mixed and inferior packed grapes will hardly 

 pay to gi'ow. In this age of competition it will only pay to grow the 

 best. Skillful packing and handling of grapes are only acquired by prac- 

 tice. 



With good markets near at hand, and good shipping facilities which 

 the State possesses, and if the foregoing factors necessary to successful 

 commercial grape growing, mixed with a personal study of the subject, 

 a good supply of muscle grease and a little common sense are applied, com- 

 mercial gi'ape growing in Indiana must in time become one of the great 

 industi-ies of the State. 



President Stevens: We will hasten and take up the next subject, 

 "Strawberries," by Mr. Reed. 



POSSIBILITIES OF INDIANA FOR GROWING STRAWBERRIES 



FOR MARKET. 



BY W. C. REED, VINOENNES. 



In reviewing the possibilities of Indiana for growing strawberries, I 

 would first consider the markets we are to supply. We have Chicago in 

 easy reach, and Indianapolis, South Bend, Terre Haute, and all the manu- 

 facturing cities of the gas belt within a few hours' ride of any of us. 

 These are all good markets, and seldom have enough choice berries to 

 supply the demand. With the best markets in the central west at our 

 door, we should strive to supply their wants, if om* soil is adapted to 



