TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION. 
105 
was first exhibited in 1854. Many others took up this line of work, and 
within less than a quarter of a century scores of new hybrids, descended in 
part from the vinifera species, were disseminated among American grape 
growers. These, together with the varieties belonging to purely native 
species which have been named and introduced into cultivation within the 
last fifty years now number several hundred, while the number of seedlings 
which have been discarded as unworthy of cultivation has, during the same 
period, reached far into the thousands. 
DECLINE OF THE INTEREST IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE GRAPE. 
For many years well located vineyards were very profitable. Finally there 
came a period of depression. The price which the grower received for his 
grapes dropped from fifteen or more cents per pound to twelve cents, then to 
ten cents, then to eight cents and in succeeding years gradually lower and 
lower. In some of the prominent vineyard sections of New York the growers 
now feel well satisfied if they receive on the average two cents per pound for 
their fruit. Grapes are now grown on as narrow a margin of profit as the 
ordinary staple farm products. There are no prospects that the high prices 
of former years will ever be regained. Grapes are now so cheap that they 
are freely used by the common people throughout the country, and will doubt- 
less remain so. The following incident illustrates the way in which, under 
modern methods of transportation, the grapes of one locality may be placed 
upon the markets in a distant part of the country and be retailed there at 
low prices. 
A gentleman reports that in September, 1894, when he left the Chautauqua 
grape belt for a western trip the Chautauqua growers were receiving for their 
grapes by the car load, eleven cents per eight-pound basket, above commission 
and freight charges. The next day he found the same class of grapes retail- 
ing on the street corners of Chicago at fifteen cents, the dealer claiming that 
he made a profit of but one-half cent per basket. At St. Paul, Minn., he found 
the same kind of grapes retailing in stores at eighteen cents. At Fargo, N. D., 
they were twenty-five cents, and in little railroad towns in extreme parts of 
the State they were retailing at thirty-five cents per basket. 
In consequence of the low prices at which grapes are now selling com- 
mercial vineyards are becoming more aud more centered in favored localities, 
and are being extended in but few places. In many localities the vine acre- 
age is even less than it was ten years ago. 
The markets do not show sufficient discrimination to encourage the plant- 
ing of grapes of superior quality, so that vineyardists are growing the more 
productive sorts of a lower grade, and many of the varieties of best quality 
are gradually disappearing from vineyard culture and from the nurserymen’s 
lists. 
LEADING VINEYARD VARIETIES. 
It will be instructive to inquire here what kinds are persisting in vineyard 
cultivation. This may give some suggestions as to the direction in which to 
look for the further permanent improvement of commercial sorts. I have 
endeavored to learn what varieties are now grown most extensively in com- 
mercial vineyards, or for home use in sections where there are no commercial 
vineyards. I desire here to acknowledge my indebtedness to the station 
horticulturists, the nurserymen and the vineyardists who have with uniform 
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