AND WINE MAKING. 135 



For the general crop nine-pound baskets are used, the 

 "pony" baskets of four or five pounds being in little 

 demand, except for the early or extra sorts. The pack- 

 ing house is a feature of every grape farm, some being 

 very large and handsome. The work of picking and 

 packing furnishes employment to large numbers of men, 

 women and boys, many of whom come from a distance. 



The grape harvest is a season of great activity and 

 care, mingled with not a little social pleasure. Women 

 and girls come singly, in groups, or even in car-loads, 

 mostly in pursuance of previous engagements. Between 

 this welcome element and the resident population social 

 ties are readily formed ; balls and other gatherings are 

 common, and many an acquaintance is begun which 

 afterwards ends in marriage. The great bulk of the 

 Chautauqua crop is marketed as table grapes, the amount 

 made into wine being a very small proportion. But the 

 preparation of unfermented grape juice is increasing, 

 and promises to attain commercial importance. 



Many efforts have been put forth to secure effective 

 cooperation among the Chautauqua grape growers. 

 Several years ago the Chautauqua and Northeast Grape 

 Union, embracing the entire belt, was organized. For 

 several years it rendered valuable aid in marketing the 

 grapes. But it failed to receive hearty and general sup- 

 port, and after the close of the season of 1894 it was 

 disbanded. Several smaller organizations have since 

 been formed, either by voluntary association or legal 

 incorporation. 



The output of table grapes from the Chautauqua belt 

 is from 40,000 to 50,000 tons yearly. The railroad ship- 

 ments of 1891 were 3100 carloads of twelve and a half 

 tons each; those of 1894 were 3600 carloads; of 1895, 

 notwithstanding the destructive freeze of May, they were 

 3200 carloads. The net receipts to growers were 

 $1,159,200 in 1894, and $1,209,600 in 1895, the in- 



