STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 235 



grapes and brandies than any other country, while our area for 

 successful production is larger than that of France. Good grape 

 land is worth $50 to $100 per acre, and can be brought to bear 

 for $100 per acre more. Then five tons of grapes per acre, at $20 

 per ton, at $20 per acre for cultivation annually. 



A discussion of the paper and varieties in general followed. 

 Mr. Green, ^N'ew York, saw how cheap Chinese labor enabled 

 California growers to compete with producers of the East, not- 

 withstanding high freights. Mr. Miller, Penn., thought Worden 

 superior to Concord, from one year's trial. He asked Mr. Hub- 

 bard concerning a tendency to drop from the stem. Mr. Hubbard 

 said all reports were to the contrary. He had visited the origi- 

 nal vine on Mr. Worden's place, which had produced one hun- 

 dred and ten pounds of grapes annually for three years past. 

 The present crop was the finest he ever saw. Worden is larger, 

 handsomer than Concord, a week to ten days earlier; quality of 

 a first-class Concord; no rot. Mr. Hollister, Mo., reported a very 

 short grape crop in that state, fruit rotting badly. He condemned 

 the practice of selling unripe grapes to get high prices early. Dr. 

 McKay, Miss. , said it was a poor grape year there. Concord did 

 best, and was generally regarded as the safest to plant between 

 the 30° and 35° of latitude. Scuppernong never failed, but was 

 not good for market. Excessive rains for thirty days had 

 caused much rot. Mr. Miller had found sulphate of iron a pre- 

 ventive of rot. Mr. Liudsay, N. C, spoke of the increase of 

 grape culture in his state. The eastern section is the home of 

 the Scuppernong, one vine often covering three acres. Seventy- 

 five .varieties bunch grapes grown in the middle section, where 

 the finest grapes in the country are raised. Ives and Champion 

 pay best. We call Worden the best black grape. Mr. Van 

 Deman, Kan., reports a good grape crop. He had visited many 

 vineyards in Texas and Arkansas, and found fair crops in spite of 

 the drought. He alluded to the noble work of Mr. Munson, of 

 Texas, who is sowing seeds of wildings, and crossing seedlings 

 with the best cultivated sorts. Some wild bunches there are 

 one foot long, and the grapes are fine. 



Mr. G. W. Campbell, Ohio, said: ''In Central Ohio, this is 

 the best grape season since 1849. Early and late sorts are ripen- 

 ing near together. I was one of the first to raise Worden in 

 Ohio. It is larger then Concord, juicier, ripens earlier, but it 

 has all the faults of that kind — a tender skin, a poorshij)per." 

 Mr. Carpenter, Ohio, thought high culture gave better grapes 



