MARKETING EASTERN GRAPES. 5 



COMMERCIAL VARIETIES. 



As the grape industry of the East is founded upon the improved 

 varieties developed during the nineteenth century, a short description 

 of the characteristics of the leading varieties, from the commercial 

 point of view, is here given since, of the 700 varieties recognized by 

 pomologists, 7 constitute the great bulk of the production, only those 

 7 varieties are here described. 



THE CONCORD. 



The Concord is preeminently the leading commercial variety of 

 the eastern United States. It is an interesting fact that the develop- 

 ment of the commercial grape industry has gone hand in hand with 

 the introduction of this variety in the section. The characteristics 

 that have made the Concord the undisputed leader among varieties 

 are its extreme hardiness and high productivity under a wide range 

 of soil and climatic conditions. The large quantities of Concord 

 grapes that have been disposed of commercially during the past two 

 decades have created a demand for blue or black grapes on the part 

 of the consuming public analagous to the favor in which the red 

 varieties of apples are held. 



The clear, red juice of the Concord makes it the leading variety 

 for the manufacture of grape juice, and several of the factories which 

 produce the highest quality of product refuse any other variety. 

 Large quantities were formerly used for the manufacture of sweet red 

 wines, to which it gave a bright ruby color, a fruity flavor, and a fine 

 body. The Concord may not be held in high esteem by a few con- 

 noisseurs, but it is regarded as the standard variety by the general 

 consuming public. It withstands diseases and insect attacks, pro- 

 duces good, close, fair-sized bunches of medium-sized berries, and 

 has a most attractive color and bloom. Its only weakness is that it 

 is not so good a shipper as some other varieties, as it rapidly loses 

 its flavor after picking and the berries soon shell and crack. 



Not only does the total commercial production of the Concord far 

 exceed that of any other variety, but it is the leader in practically 

 every grape-growing district north of the Potomac River and east 

 of the Rockies, particularly in the Chautauqua-Erie belt of New 

 York and Pennsylvania, where it occupies 95 per cent of the com- 

 mercial acreage. In the South it is not so popular, for the berries 

 ripen unevenly, but even there it finds some favor for home con- 

 sumption. 



Certain other varieties, notably the Niagara and the Delaware, 

 often command a slight premium over the Concord, but this does 

 not disprove the leadership of this great blue variety, as these other 

 kinds meet a special and limited demand which can consume only 

 a relatively small quantity of stock at premium prices. 



