MARKETING EASTERN GRAPES. 51 



market appreciates stock of good appearance and makes more dis- 

 tinction between labeled and unlabeled stock than most cities. New 

 York grapes generally command a slight premium over Michigan 

 grapes of the same class. 



Pittsburgh has been an important distributing center for bulk 

 stock, particularly that originating in the Chautauqua-Erie belt. A 

 strong preference exists for 4-quart and 12-quart baskets, the latter 

 having been used almost exclusively for wine, which in this district 

 was mostly homemade. This" market makes little or no distinction 

 between varieties, except that it is markedly indifferent to the Ca- 

 tawba, which can scarcely be moved in any volume. New York 

 stock generally receives a slight premium here. 



The New York city market receives more varieties and types of 

 containers than any other. Two-quart and 4-quart baskets for table 

 stock, 12-quart baskets and return trays for bulk stock, are all in 

 good demand, but the gift case is most easily moved. Probably be- 

 cause New York has received heavy supplies of various varieties 

 from the Hudson Valley and Central Lakes districts of the State, 

 the trade and consumers have learned the use of the different kinds, 

 so that there is very little price' differential between the Concord, 

 Niagara, Delaware, and Catawba. The Champion and the Moore 

 Early generally sell at a slight discount. The demand for Catawbas 

 is not good until the other varieties are gone ; then they can be moved 

 in relatively large quantities. 



Philadelphia has been a heavy receiver of bulk stock, most of 

 which went into wine ; the ratio of this type of stock to table stock 

 has been about 2^ to 1. For table stock the 2-quart basket is much 

 preferred, and the 4-quart package sells below the usual propor- 

 tionate price of these two sizes in other cities. The Concord is the 

 most popular grape and commands a premium over the Niagara and 

 the Delaware if the latter are present in large quantities. Phila- 

 delphia is not a Catawba market and it is difficult to move this 

 variety. 



Boston is a good market for fancy stock. Delawares generally 

 command a premium of 0.5 to 1 cent per basket, though the Niagaras 

 usually bring less than Concords until late in the season when the 

 former variety is disappearing. It is said that there has been no 

 demand for the Catawbas except for wine-making purposes. This 

 market is partial to both 2-quart and 4-quart baskets, and these 

 containers usually sell at about the average proportionate price. 



Baltimore and Washington are similar in their market prefer- 

 ences. They are predominately table-stock consumers and demand 

 the 2-quart package. The demand for bulk grapes is relatively 

 limited, and it is rather difficult to move any large number of 4-quart 

 baskets. In normal years the Niagara commands a premium of 1 to 



