8 BULLETIN 861, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



and having the advantage of ripening from two to three weeks be- 

 fore the Concord it may be regarded as a valuable commercial sort. 

 Though less adaptable than the Concord in the matter of soils, it 

 stands a much wider range of climatic conditions, thriving in New 

 York, Michigan, the Missouri Valley, New Jersey, and the Southeast. 



THE WORDEN. 



The Worden is similar to the Moore in fruit characteristics, 

 season, and soil requirements, and is rather more hardy and 

 productive. If it were a better shipper it would probably largely 

 rej^lace that variety for the early trade. Its great drawback is 

 tenderness of skin, which results in cracking and speedy deteriora- 

 tion. In addition, it ripens unevenly and sometimes two or three 

 pickings are necessary for a high-class pack. Like the Moore, 

 it grows well in New York, Michigan, the Missouri Valley, and the 

 Southeast. Also like the Moore, it is regarded by the trade and by 

 the consuming public as an early Concord. It is a valuable variety 

 for local consumption and near-by shipment and finds some favor 

 for grape- juice manufacture, particularly in the Chautauqua-Erie 

 belt. 



THE CHAMPION. 



The Champion is an early blue variety that belongs to the same 

 category as the Moore and the Worden in that it is sold upon the 

 reputation of the Concord. In this case the Concord is hurt by 

 the substitution, as the Champion is of poor quality, with a sour and 

 rather disagreeable taste. It is an important variety for the lighter 

 soils of Michigan, but does not assume commercial importance in 

 other leading districts. Its low quality usually results in reduced 

 demand, and it commonly sells from 1 to 5 cents below the Worden, 

 the Moore, and the Concord, the usual discount being 2 to 3 cents 

 on a 4-quart basket. 



VARIETIES UNIMPORTANT COMMERCIALLY. 



There are hundreds of other American varieties widely grown 

 in a small way, but their commercial importance is slight. It is safe 

 to assume that 95 per cent of the stock skipped to terminal markets 

 belongs to the 7 varieties named above. Offerings of the varieties 

 named below sometimes appear in the larger jobbing markets, but 

 rarely in car-lot quantities, and are usually sold merely as blue, red, 

 or white varieties. The more important of these white or green 

 varieties are the Diamond, Dutchess, Elvira, Pocklington, Norton, 

 and Winchell; of the red varieties, the Agawam, Brighton, Diana, 



