SOME HISTORY OF THE GRAPE IN THE UNITED STATES 69 



The total grapes produced for commercial purposes in 1914, if 

 figured in carload lots, would mean a train of 137,500 cars. No 

 other fruit industry in this country can show such a record. This 

 in spite of all the difficulties encountered certainly pays a tremen- 

 dous tribute of love for the vine. 



Credits. 



Of credits that should be placed to American viticulture I would 

 mention the following. We are rapidly improving on the already 

 good methods we have of packing, handling, storing and marketing 

 of table grapes. We are not only producing all the raisins we con- 

 sume but are becoming exporters of them. We are keeping pace 

 with improved methods of fermentation, cellar treatment, and excel 

 in methods of transporting and shipping of wines. The sparkling 

 wines made in this country from American, as well as Vinifera 

 grapes, are rapidly replacing those heretofore imported. The un- 

 fermented grape juice business has rapidly become an important 

 speciality. We are making and consuming a number of new grape 

 products. 



In machinery for harvesting, handling, working grapes into 

 products and transporting the same, we lead the world. What a 

 wonderful change in equipment and great saving of expense in cellar 

 management have been brought about through the must pump and 

 what an expense in costly shipping cooperage will be eliminated 

 by the shipments of wine in bulk or tanks aboard cars or vessels. 

 We have learned to control our most formidable grape diseases and 

 insect pests. 



American native grape varieties as Phylloxera resistant stocks 

 have been the means of saving the viticulture of the entire world. 

 This and much else already accomplished speaks well for an in- 

 dustry as yet in its infancy. 



Our viticultural investigations have about convinced us that we 

 will soon know how to grow within our confines the forty to forty- 

 five million pounds of currants we annually import and consume in 

 this country, and why should we not also grow the two hundred and 

 fifty to three hundred and fifty thousand barrels of grapes packed 

 in sawdust, annually imported into this country. It has already 



