CONFERENCE ON GRAPE GROWING. 143 



our climate upon the seed while growing will tend to adapt it to 

 our short season, and if the planting of such seeds is persisted in 

 for several generations grapes will be produced from such a basis 

 that will mature fruit in this climate. 



He said that he had a southern grape that had several valuable 

 characteristics, but he was obliged to grow it in a tub in order to 

 secure the ripening of its seed, and most of the seedlings of that 

 grape were well out of danger from frost when it came. That is 

 a basis that should not be neglected as it promises very desirable 

 results. The tendency of all plants to adapt themselves to sur- 

 rounding conditions is noticeable everj^Ahere in Sweden where 

 there are but nine weeks of spring, summer, and fall. They get 

 two crops of hay and their gardens peld two crops of vegetables. 



Mr. White also called attention to the production of unfermented 

 grape juice, a product that might be made of great commercial 

 value in this state. The conditions are as favorable in Massa- 

 chusetts for the production of this commodity as are those of any 

 section of the country. 



Wilfrid Wheeler said that the Concord grape had given this 

 country a great impetus in grape growing and was grown ten to one 

 in proportion to other varieties. In New York State more than 

 half of the varieties grown are Concords. Grape growing has 

 improved much in the last hundred years but it will improve still 

 more in the next century. Cross hybridization is going on indefi- 

 nitely, and the few hardy varieties we have do not compare with 

 those grown in hothouses at the present time. There is still a 

 great chance for improvement. 



One of the greatest troubles with garden grown grapes is that 

 they are grown in too rich soil. The best A-ineyards arovmd here 

 are grown in rocky or sandy soil where the ^^nes get fertilizing 

 from the decayed granite. 



One of the worst pests of the grape vine is the rose bug which, 

 when it gets at a crop, is likely to wipe out the whole of it at one 

 inroad. 



Mr. Wheeler said that one of the most profitable uses of the grape 

 is for the making of unfermented grape juice. The foreign element 

 coming into the country is demanding this. The price of grapes 

 now is eight to twelve cents a pound and there is no reason why 

 ^rape growing should not return a good profit. 



