GRAPES 205 



all kinds and the fruit comes out in the fall 

 beautifully clean and perfect. Those who grow 

 grapes for home use should always take extra 

 time and trouble to bag a portion of the crop at 

 least, for the fruit when so protected will re- 

 main in good condition long after the exposed 

 bunches are gone. I have frequently had them 

 in perfect shape late in November and there is 

 nothing more refreshing than to open a bag of 

 grapes on the vine some crisp cool morning 

 when the frost is on the pumpkin and the fod- 

 der has all been hauled into the barn. 



The question of marketing the grape crop 

 has undergone very severe revision in recent 

 years. Formerly a good portion of the fruit 

 was converted into wine, as has been the case 

 since Bible times. With the advent of prohibi- 

 tion this outlet for the crop was eliminated and 

 for a time it appeared that the vineyard owners 

 would have to tear out their vines and turn 

 their attention to some other crop. In a few 

 instances this was actually done, but the 

 growers who held on have made money by 

 doing so. After the country went dry there 

 appeared an increased demand for unfer- 

 mented grape juice. (Whether the increased 

 demand for raisins had any partnership in this 

 I do not know.) To-day a large part of the 

 crop is converted into this temperance bever- 

 age and the grape-growers should at least 



