130 THINNING, GATHERING, KEEPING, MARKETING. 



is more dependent upon judicious handling than that of any 

 other fruit with which I am conversant. While the grape is 

 a fruit peculiarly constituted to endure almost an unlimited 

 amount of abuse in handling, no other fruit so richly pays 

 every iota of care that may be expended upon it. The most 

 casual observer of our great fruit-markets cannot but have 

 noticed the wide range of prices in all kinds of fruit, produced 

 by a difference in method and style of handling. And no 

 fruit with which I am acquainted suffers more from neglect in 

 growing and marketing, or more amply repays thorough 

 husbandry. 



" Thorough pulverization of the soil to a liberal depth 

 every week during the growing season of the vine, a systematic 

 thinning of fruit, and removing of all superfluous growth, will 

 secure a well-matured crop of grapes. As soon as fully ripe 

 (not before), the fruit should be carefully picked and laid in 

 shallow, well-ventilated drawers, carried to the packing- 

 house on a spring-wagon, and placed in racks or cribs over 

 registers so constructed as to afford plenty of fresh air, but 

 not exposed to light, or artificial heat. Here the fruit may 

 remain for months in safety, and retain its plumpness and 

 bloom perfectly. When desirable to send to market, the 

 drawers are taken from the rack in the storeroom, and placed 

 upon the tables in the packing-rooms, where the fruit is care- 

 fully assorted, all green berries, and superfluous stems re- 

 moved, and packed closely in paper pockets or wooden boxes, 

 and immediately shipped. The packing-rooms should be well 

 lighted. Small paper pockets, containing from one to three 

 pounds, snugly packed in wooden cases, two dozen pockets in 

 a case, are found to carry the fruit more safely to market than 

 larger packages. The cases should be as nearly air-tight as 

 possible. I have sent many tons, packed in this manner, to 

 Charleston, S. C., Nashville, Tenn., Quincy, Bloomington, 

 and Dubuque, on the Mississippi River, and many other 

 towns, over equally hazardous routes, with entire safety. 

 Good grapes, neatly packed in fancy paper pockets, will 

 always sell at remunerative prices, however much the market 

 may be ' glutted' with fruit put up in a slovenly manner, 



"In answer to your inquiries as to size and shape of 



