HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 133 



scarcity of other fruits contemporaneous with Minnetonka grapes, 

 has an effect upon prices, but in the long run they balance up 

 about even, and their presence in the market aids in creating a 

 great fruit distributing center, and in this respect is a benefit. 



A comparison as to quality and condition when marketed shows 

 that grapes from Missouri, Illinois and Iowa seldom come into this 

 market in first class shape. This fruit although sweet and good 

 when newly gathered, is full of juice and of rather tender skin, and 

 breaks easily in handling. Eipening as it does early in the season 

 while the weather in those localities is still warm, it reaches this 

 market as a rule in a more or less damaged condition. 



The Concords of Ohio come later in cooler weather, and being a 

 firmer berry, they reach here in a better condition than from the 

 states above named, but never heretofore in sufficient quantity to 

 seriously affect the market. 



While these states were the only competitors sending grapes to 

 this market the Minnetonka grower had little to fear. 



In western New York in the angle formed by Lakes Erie and 

 Ontario, protected and nourished by the moist air of both lakes, 

 lies a territory which is apparently the natural home of the Con- 

 cord grape. The culture of the vine there has become a great in- 

 dustry. Its Concords are different from any raised in the west. 

 The bunches are of medium size and fairly compact and the berries 

 of good size; sweet, with a firm skin and adhering closely to the 

 stem. Altogether it is a fruit possessing the qualifications needed 

 for safe handling and long keeping. 



This is a fair description of the New York Concord that three 

 years ago appeared upon this market in great quantities for the 

 first time and following the channels of trade north and west were 

 diffused over the whole country as in a flood, and filled the market. 

 This overflow from New York has been repeated annually since and 

 may be looked for regularly hereafter. 



These grapes reach this market in much better condition than 

 those from the south, but not always in first class order. A fair 

 proportion are injured by crushing, heat, mildew and other disas- 

 ters to which fruit is liable and the consumer can not be sure that 

 his baskets contain only sound and uninjured grapes. 



The grapes of Minnetonka, sold in competition with this south- 

 ern and eastern fruit, if properly gathered, when fully ripe, and 

 carefully handled, is placed on the market in a uniformly sound 

 and fresh condition. 



Can the Minnetonka grower raise and market the grape as 

 cheaply as the grower of Missouri, Illinois or New York? There 

 being no material difference so far as can be learned in the cost of 

 labor required in the different localities, in the yield per vine, in 

 the cost of materials used or in the commission paid to the agent 

 who sells the fruit, in what respect is the Minnetonka grower at a 

 disadvantage? The only extra labor required here is the burying of 

 the vines, which should not exceed in cost one cent per vine. But 

 this extra labor practically insures a crop the year following, and 

 vine growers in most of the localities referred to would doubtless 



