MARKETING EASTERN GRAPES. - 39 



Severe attacks of black rot seemed to threaten the industry between 

 1905 and 1910 and caused the abandonment of many acres, but it 

 was soon found that careful spraying would reduce the effects of this 

 disease to a minimum. 



The methods of commercial disposition of the crop have gone 

 through the usual evolution. In the early days near-by markets like 

 Chicago, Lansing, and Detroit received the bulk of the shipments, 

 which were usually forwarded on consignment; but now the extent 

 of distribution of Michigan's shipments and the strength of its 

 f . o. b. market is unequaled in the grape industry of the East. 



Acreage and Varieties. 



No accurate or official data are available as to the present produc- 

 tion and acreage in Michigan, but the indications are that replant- 

 ings have almost, if not quite, equaled the acreage abandoned. The 

 decrease in shipments in 1918 was due to a very light yield caused 

 by unfavorable weather conditions, and can not be traced to any 

 decrease in the number of vines. Substantiating this statement, 

 local information puts the average yield per acre at 1| to If tons and 

 the yield for 1918 at two-thirds to seven-eighths of a ton. 



The Concord is here preeminently the leading variety, with the 

 Champion and the Moore next in importance. The Worclen, Dela- 

 ware, Niagara, and other varieties are grown, but their relative im- 

 portance is slight. In the absence of official statistics, well-informed 

 local opinion places the acreage of the various varieties as follows : 

 Concord 85 per cent, Champion 7 per cent, Moore 6^ per cent, and 

 others 1^ per cent. It is interesting to note that the Champion is 

 being replaced by the Concord to a marked extent, as progressive 

 growers think that the Champion, which is a grape of low quality, 

 reaching the market before any other variety, has a deleterious 

 effect on the general consumptive demand. 



The Champion usually begins to move heavily during the second 

 week in September and cleans up in 10 days to 2 weeks. The Moore 

 Early generally begins from 3 claj^s to a week later, their normal 

 season continuing about 10 days. Most of the other A^arieties are 

 shipped late in September. The Concord, which comprises the main 

 Michigan crop, begins to move in heavy volume between the middle 

 of September and the 1st of October, and usually continues for a 

 period of about a month. 



Marketing Methods. 



The highest development of grape-marketing machinery is found 

 in Michigan, and practically the whole crop is sold on an f. o. b. 



basis. 



