SCREEN AND FRUIT CROP AFTER THREE YEARS. 



733 



to quality is difficult, because they are not all in their 

 prime at the same time, and because we have to rely so 

 much upon impressions made upon the palate at differ- 

 ent times and under different conditions. A grape, also, 

 which is an abomination when not yet fully ripe, like 

 the Ives and many others, may be fairly or perhaps 

 quite good at maturity. Some of the sorts that we con- 

 demned at one time made quite a different impression 

 a week or two later. The 

 grower should know the 

 exact time when the fruit 

 is fully matured and in 

 best condition. On the 

 whole, we believe a large 

 part of the grape crop is 

 gathered too soon, thus 

 creating an unfavorable 

 impression upon the con- 

 sumer, not only in re- 

 gard to the particular 

 variety, whichever it may 

 be, but to the goodness 

 of the grape in general. 

 It is one of the obstacles 

 in the way of a more 

 rapid growth of public 

 taste for grapes. Noth- 

 ing could more effectively 

 stimulate the consump- 

 tion of this fruit than 

 the banishment from our 

 markets of every cluster 

 not fully ripe, or not 

 prime in every other re- 

 spect. 



The extremely hot 

 weather in September 

 hurried up the crop, then 

 rather backward, and 

 brought all except a few 

 of the latest sorts (Ca- 

 tawba, Diana, Jefferson, 

 etc.) to full maturity. 

 The following are some 

 of our observations re- 

 garding varieties : 



Agawarn is a thrifty 

 grower, ripening fruit to- 

 ward end of September. 

 The berries are large, 

 dark red, sweet, and 

 meaty. But the Agawam 



is not as productive as are our standard market sorts. 



August Ciaitt makes plenty of cane, but only small 

 bunches, and not many of them. Berry black, of largest 

 size and good quality, ripening late in September. 



Bcattly is a weak grower, and produced but little fruit. 

 Berry red, late. 



Black Pearl may prove to be a good wine grape. It 



Cluster of Eldor.^do Grape ; Life Size. 



is a very vigorous grower and heavy yielder of smallish 

 compact bunches. Berry small, having a decided black- 

 currant flavor, and dark purple juice. It was the first 

 in the vineyard to show color on the berries. 



Champion is our earliest black grape, and a thrifty 

 grower. One can eat it when it is in its prime, but it 

 is never a really enjoyable fruit. 



Centennial makes a small vine, but the clusters are of 

 fair size, shouldered. 

 Color green with a trace 

 of pink, and heavy 

 bloom. Quality fairly 

 good. 



Cata'tiiba is quite vigor- 

 ous in growth, making 

 large, loose, shouldered 

 bunches. Berry large, 

 but ripening so late that 

 it is of little use to us. 



Brighton. Few varie- 

 ties equal this in quality; 

 we would place it only 

 second to Eldorado in the 

 list of our favorites. It 

 gives us a fairly vigor- 

 ous growth and healthy 

 foliage, plenty of large 

 shouldered bunches, and 

 these fine red in color 

 and beautiful in general 

 appearance. Fruit rip- 

 ened toward the end of 

 September, and it is well 

 worth having— pure in 

 flavor, rich and luscious. 

 It suffered somewhat 

 from injury by insects. 

 We only regret that we 

 did not plant more than 

 the five vines of this 

 choice variety. If it can 

 be made to bear as freely 

 in commercial vineyards, 

 by planting it with free 

 pollen-bearers, as it bore 

 on our grounds, we would 

 advised that it be grown, 

 largely for market. 



Clinton makes a fair 

 growth. It is a late wine 

 grape, somewhat resem- 

 bling the earlier Black 

 Pearl ; the bunch and berry are rather small. 



Concord is still the old stand-by as a grape for general 

 purposes, and altogether indispensable. It is a grape we 

 all can eat and enjoy, provided we will only let it get well 

 ripened. It gives us the quantity, too. Our crop ripened 

 about September 25. 



Diana shows good growth and foliage, small bunches, 



