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



Quality of Pack. 



The conditions of production on the whole are very good in this 

 State, as careful cultivation, fertilization, pruning, and spraying are 

 practiced. Michigan is singularly free from insect pests, but the 

 black rot is troublesome and at times causes serious loss. Almost 

 without exception, table stock is shipped in the 4-quart basket, which 

 has become the standard Michigan container. The baskets are 

 packed in the field, directly from the vines, and a good pack is gen- 

 erally turned out. There is much local discussion as to the relative 

 quality of the pack of cooperative associations, of independent 

 growers, and of the stock sold on the street markets. Usually the 

 pack of the associations is slightly superior. The relative quality of 

 Michigan and New York shipments is another much- discussed point, 

 for shippers from New York claim to put up a much more fancy 

 product. The fact that Pittsburgh and Chicago, the two most im- 

 portant markets where the shipments come into direct competition, 

 consistently pay a slight premium for the New York stock would 

 seem to corroborate this, but it is. doubtful whether the difference 

 is not more fancied than real, for while the Michigan stock has been 

 improving in recent years, it is believed by impartial observers that 

 the quality of the New York pack in general has been deteriorating. 



The Climax baskets used in Michigan are often. of coarse stock 

 and do not present such an attractive appearance as the New York 

 baskets. Many Michigan shippers refuse to label the baskets, al- 

 though this costs only about one-fourth of a cent and usually se- 

 cures a premium of 1 to 3 cents per basket. These shippers have not 

 conducted such an active campaign of advertisement of the quality 

 of their stock as have the New York factors. Another cause for this 

 market preference is that many Champions, a variety of very low 

 quality, have been shipped from Michigan. Growers have come to 

 realize that this variety has a depressing effect on the general de- 

 mand for Michigan stock and are rapidly replacing the Champion 

 with the Concord. If those interested in the Michigan industry 

 would pay more attention to these points, there seems no reason why 

 the trade should not come to recognize fully the high quality of the 

 stock from this State. 



Market Outlets and Distribution. 



While New York has been diverting its grapes from table stock to 

 wine and juice manufacture during the past few years, Michigan has 

 been developing new markets and a system of extensive and intensive 

 distribution, unequaled in the grape industry farther east. The 



