MARKETING EASTERN GRAPES. O 
COMMERCIAL VARIETIES. 
As the grape industry of the East is founded upon the improved 
varieties developed during the nineteenth century, a short description 
of the characteristics of the leading varieties, from the commercial 
point of view, is here given since, of the TOO varieties recognized by 
pomologists, 7 constitute the great bulk of the production, only those 
7 varieties are here described. 
THE CONCORD. 
The Concord is preeminently the leading commercial variety of 
the eastern United States. It is an interesting fact that the develop- 
ment of the commercial grape industry has gone hand in hand with 
the introduction of this variety in the section. The characteristics 
that have made the Concord the undisputed leader among varieties 
are its extreme hardiness and high productivity under a wide range 
of soil and climatic conditions. The large quantities of Concord 
grapes that have been disposed of commercially during the past two 
decades have created a demand for blue or black grapes on the part 
of the consuming public analagous to the favor in which the red 
varieties of apples are held. 
The clear, red juice of the Concord makes it the leading variety 
for the manufacture of grape juice, and several of the factories which 
produce the highest quality of product refuse any other variety. 
Large quantities were formerly used for the manufacture of sweet red 
wines, to which it gave a bright ruby color, a fruity flavor, and a fine 
body. The Concord may not be held in high esteem by a few con- 
noisseurs, but it is regarded as the standard variety by the general 
consuming public. It withstands diseases and insect attacks, pro- 
duces good, close, fair-sized bunches of medium-sized berries, and 
has a most attractive color and bloom. Its only weakness is that it 
is not so good a shipper as some other varieties, as it rapidly loses 
its flavor after picking and the berries soon shell and crack. 
Not only does the total commercial production of the Concord far 
exceed that of any other variety, but it is the leader in practically 
every grape-growing district north of the Potomac River and east 
of the Rockies, particularly in the Chautauqua-Erie belt of New 
York and Pennsylvania, where it occupies 95 per cent of the com- 
mercial acreage. In the South it is not so popular, for the berries 
ripen unevenly, but even there it finds some favor for home con- 
sumption. 
Certain other varieties, notably the Niagara and the Delaware, 
often command a slight premium over the Concord, but this does 
not disprove the leadership of this great blue variety, as these other 
kinds meet a special and limited demand which can consume only 
a relatively small quantity of stock at premium prices. 
