THE COUNTRY HOME [CHAPTER 
The evolution of grapes and grape growing has 
been marvelous. About forty years ago a single 
carload glutted the New York market; now a car- 
load a day is dropped into consumption without a 
ripple. A single good-sized family can use a ton 
of grapes in the course of a single year — for jellies, 
marmalades and dessert. Vast areas are now given 
to growing grapes, yet the price seldom drops so 
low as to make the business unprofitable. The 
Concord was discovered about 1850; the Delaware 
was disseminated by Mr. Campbell, of Delaware, 
Ohio, a little later. These two grapes made us in- 
dependent of foreign sorts, and began a revolution, 
so that now a good grape catalogue will offer over 
one hundred standard varieties. Most of these are 
hybrids, or crossbreds, produced by the attentive 
skill of men who deserve from their country higher 
plaudits than generals and admirals. Rogers’ 
Hybrids numbered over half a hundred, and were 
followed by Dr. Grant’s delicious Iona and Israella; 
and then by Rickett’s seedlings, which include such 
superb grapes as Jefferson. Just now Mr. Mun- 
son, of Texas, is at work adding such grand achieve- 
ments as Brilliant, Headlight, and Wapanuka. 
Mr. Moore, of Western New York, has added two 
[192] 
