THE COUNTRY HOME [chapter 



The evolution of grapes and grape growing has 

 been marvelous. About forty years ago a single 

 carload glutted the New York market; now a car- 

 load a day is dropped into consumption without a 

 ripple. A single good-sized family can use a ton 

 of grapes in the course of a single year — for jellies, 

 marmalades and dessert. Vast areas are now given 

 to growing grapes, yet the price seldom drops so 

 low as to make the business unprofitable. The 

 Concord was discovered about 1850; the Delaware 

 was disseminated by Mr. Campbell, of Delaware, 

 Ohio, a little later. These two grapes made us in- 

 dependent of foreign sorts, and began a revolution, 

 so that now a good grape catalogue will offer over 

 one hundred standard varieties. Most of these are 

 hybrids, or crossbreds, produced by the attentive 

 skill of men who deserve from their country higher 

 plaudits than generals and admirals. Rogers' 

 Hybrids numbered over half a hundred, and were 

 followed by Dr. Grant's delicious lona and Israella; 

 and then by Rickett's seedlings, which include such 

 superb grapes as Jefferson. Just now Mr. Mun- 

 son, of Texas, is at work adding such grand achieve- 

 ments as Brilliant, Headlight, and Wapanuka. 

 Mr. Moore, of Western New York, has added two 



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