t89e 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 1 13 
Business. 
MARKET VARIETIES OF GRAPES. 
GEO. W. CAMPBELL. 
In reply to The Rural’s inquiry: “ What varieties of 
grapes, all things considered, are the best suited to our 
markets, and what new varieties are to be recommended?” 
I have not much that is new to offer. 
Among black grapes, for market, the Concord still takes 
the lead, and I believe nearly as many vines of this variety 
are sold as of all others put together. Aside from its good 
qualities and its general adaptability to all grape-growing 
sections, the ease with which it is propagated, and the very 
low prices at which the rooted plants are sold by nursery¬ 
men, go far to sustain its popularity and to keep it in the 
front rank for universal planting. When good Concord 
vines can be bought at wholesale for from $10 to $30 per 
1,000, and in larger quantity for even less ; and when, in a 
small way, 12 to 20 can be sent free by mail to any part of 
the country for SI, surely the people should be supplied 
with grapes to their hearts’ content, both for vineyards 
and gardens. 
Perhaps next in popularity is Moore’s Early. As it is 
about the same in quality and general character as the 
Concord,and ripens two weeks earlier, it is better suited to 
northern localities. Worden appears to be next in favor, 
and ripens intermediate between the Concord and Moore’s 
Early. Hartford Prolific and Champion at one time en¬ 
joyed considerable popularity as early-ripening varieties, 
notwithstanding their very poor quality; but they seem to 
have been nearly superseded by newer and better kinds, in 
which Moore’s Early and Worden have been largely in¬ 
strumental. Ives, or Ives’s Seedling is largely planted in 
some sections, principally as a vineyard grape for red 
wines. The vine is quite as hardy and productive as the 
Concord, and the fruit less subject to rot. It colors some 
time before it is ripe, and is ofcen sent to market for an 
early grape while it is really unfit for use. When fully 
mature.it is pleasant flavored, but has a hard pulp, not 
easily separated from the seeds. 
Among those of later introduction, Early Victor has 
proved hardy, healthy and productive, of good quality and 
early ripening, but its small size, in the absence of any re¬ 
markable excellence, will probably prevent it from becom¬ 
ing very popular as a market grape. The Eaton is regarded 
with some favor on account of its large size and attractive 
appearance. It is larger, both in bunch and berry, than 
the Concord, but does not appear to be any earlier or any 
better flavored. It has many characteristics of the Con¬ 
cord, with coarser, larger leaves and fruit, but the same 
tender, easily-broken skin, so that it requires much care in 
handling for shipment. There is a little doubt as to its 
being a very new variety, as another grape is extant, which 
is practically identical, if not the same. The Nectar, orig¬ 
inated by the late A. J. Cay wood, seems, so far as tested, 
worthy at least of trial. The vine is a fairly good grower; 
foliage healthy; clusters and. berries medium; quality 
very good. It ripens medium late, and colors some time 
before it is fully ripe. There are several of Rogers’s Hy¬ 
brids that have considerable popularity after many years 
of trial, and in some sections they are quite reliable. Wil¬ 
der, or No. 4, Merrimac, No. 19, with Barry, No. 43, and 
Herbert, No. 44, are among the best black ones. Bindley, 
Agawam, Massasoit and Salem are the most popular red 
ones. A good, black grape, with the general habit and 
character of the Concord* with a more tenacious skin, a 
little better flavor and better keeping and shipping quali¬ 
ties is needed, and would be recognized by all large grape- 
growers as an acquisition of the first importance. 
Among white grapes, Martha, a Concord seedling, is one 
of the older varieties and was once quite popular, and is 
still planted with success in many places; but it is appar¬ 
ently being superseded by later introductions. The Lady 
is larger, earlier, and of better quality, and has held its 
position as an early white grape, with an increasing de¬ 
mand, up to the present time. Its tender, easily-broken 
skin, requiring very careful handling, appears to be its 
greatest fault for a shipping variety; but for home use 
and near markets it is valuable, and no grape at the same 
time as early and as good, has yet taken its place. The 
Niagara, where the soil and situation are favorable, has 
proved a valuable market variety, and its fine size and 
showy appearance, with fairly good quality, will enable it 
to retain a deserved popularity wherever it can be success¬ 
fully grown. It has not proved quite hardy, without pro¬ 
tection, in our severe winters, and it is not more free from 
attacks of rot and mildew than many others of our native 
varieties. Empire State has not proved as reliable for 
general culture as was expected on its introduction ; and 
does not succeed over as large a territory as at first seemed 
probable. With me, it is a strong grower, with healthy 
foliage, and it bears abundantly, being in this respect less 
affected by unfavorable weather in spring than most kinds. 
It is, however, a variety that is disposed to bear too 
heavily, and the fruit should be thinned, from one-third to 
one-half having to be taken out to produce the best re¬ 
sults. For two years I have permitted it to bear its whole 
crop, causing it to be very late, and to ripen unevenly and 
imperfectly. Where the winter temperature is below zero, 
I think winter protection advisable both for the Empire 
State and Niagara. Pocklington seems increasing in 
favor, and I think will maintain its position as a good and 
profitable market grape. It is fully as large as Niagara, 
but a little later in ripening, and is regarded by most people 
as quite as good in quality. The vine seems a pure 
Labrusca of the Concord type and equal in health and 
hardiness to any of its class. It is disposed to overbear, 
and will be improved In every way by thinning the 
clusters upon the vine, and also the berries upon the 
dusters, when the finest specimens are wanted. 
Among the newer white varieties, I regard the Witt and 
Colerain as both promising. Both are of the Concord type 
of growth and foliage, and natives of Ohio. The Witt is 
the larger when well-grown, both in berry and cluster. 
The vine is moderately vigorous in growth, but disposed to 
bear too abundantly. The fruit should be thinned upon 
the vine; but the clusters are usually just right, being 
neither too compact nor too loose. The Colerain is rather 
stronger in growth, with larger wood and leaves. The 
berries and clusters are medium, but handsome and well 
formed, and apparently the vine is not disposed to over¬ 
bear. In flavor and quality, the two are much alike, and 
I have found it hard to say, either from my own taste or 
the judgment of others, which is the better. Their period 
of ripening is very nearly the same here, early in Septem¬ 
ber. Moore’s Diamond, also a new white grape, is reported 
to be a cross of the Iona upon the Concord. The vine is 
very vigorous, with healthy foliage so far as tested here. 
Hitherto, on young vines, it has been a shy bearer, with 
medium-large berries, and small clusters. It ripens early, 
and the quality is good. I have several very favorable re¬ 
ports from it grown in different sections of Ohio. Further 
trial will be necessary before I can express a more decided 
opinion as to its merits. I have recently seen the statement 
and have le-rned otherwise, upon apparently good author¬ 
ity, that the Green Mountain and the Winchell Grapes are 
the same, and from the same source. [We have also heard 
the same from good authority. Eds.] 
Among red grapes, the Delaware maintains its high 
position, and is grown with pleasure and profit in many 
places where the soil and climate are suited to its par¬ 
ticular requirements. Small size and susceptibility to 
diseases of foliage are about its only faults. No variety 
that I have ever grown is so free from rot. It is sure to 
overbear if permitted,and I have found it to be an advantage 
to thin out from one-half to two-thirds of the clusters from 
Delaware vines, and have seen vineyards ruined by allow¬ 
ing them to carry their whole crop, which not only failed 
to ripen, but practically destroyed the future usefulness 
of the vines. The Brighton, under favorable conditions, is 
a fine and deservedly popular grape, and has in many 
placesgiven good satisfaction, both in growth, productive¬ 
ness and quality. Its partially imperfect blossom prevents 
its selling well if cold, rainy and unfavorable weather oc¬ 
curs at the blooming season; and few and imperfect clusters 
result. It is not a good long-keeper; but when it is fully 
matured and taken fresh from the vine, it leaves little to 
wish for in fine flavor and quality. Yergennes has many 
Device for Loading Corn Fodder. Fig. 3 1 3. 
good qualities, and seems to be growing in favor. Its 
berries are large and handsome, and the clusters a full 
medium. The berries improve by hanging late upon the 
vine, and keep reasonably well after they are gathered. It 
is rather inclined to overbear; but in most localities will be 
found satisfactory. 
The Woodruff Red has been quite largely planted for a 
new variety, and I think has been found generally satis¬ 
factory, especially as to growth, hardiness, health and pro¬ 
ductiveness. Upon old and fully developed vines the 
bunches and berries are very large, and with their hand¬ 
some reddish color are very attractive in appearance. 
There seems a good deal of diversity of opinion as to its 
quality, some regarding it highly and others not. The 
former, however, appear to be largely in the majority, and 
I still think it the most promising red grape for profitable 
market yet introduced, taking its place beside the Con¬ 
cord, Niagara and Pocklington. The Moyer has the merit 
of earliness; its foliage resists mildew better than that of 
the Delaware. Its clusters and berries are quite small, 
and its blossoms imperfect, like those of the Brighton. In 
flavor it is sweet and pleasant; but I do not think many 
persons would regard it as nearly equal to a well-ripened 
Delaware. The Iona and Jefferson are both grapes of re¬ 
markable excellence where they can be grown successfully; 
but, unfortunately, such locations are few; and the vines 
require more care and attention to produce the best results 
than the average planter will give. 
Mr. Munson’s Brilliant I regard as the most promising, 
all things considered, and so far as tested, of all the newer 
red grapes, having great vigor of growth, abundant pro¬ 
ductiveness, with ability to carry a full crop to maturity. 
It is a cross of the Lindley and Delaware; has large, mod¬ 
erately compact and handsome clusters, the largest upon a 
young vine in its second bearing measuring six inches in 
length. The berries are a full medium to large, ia color a 
very light red maroon, or wine color, and in quality very 
good, nearly equal to the Delaware. It might be almost 
regarded as an overgrown Delaware, four times the size 
of the old variety, and with a stronger growth and larger 
and healthier foliage. The illustrated specimens in The 
Rural New Yorker are not above half the size of the 
best clusters grown here. Bettina, a black grape is a seed¬ 
ling of my own, which, in my opinion, is not excelled in 
quality by any other black grape I have ever seen. It has 
apparently perfect blossoms; but its clusters are always 
too loose. If it had not been for this defect, I would grow 
it for sale. Another native black seedling,Welby, I think 
promising as a wine-grape, owing to its deep-colored juice 
and pleasant flavor; it is almost good enough also for 
a table-grape. The vine “is all right.” Blackwell is an¬ 
other black one, which always has small clusters, but the 
flavor is remarkable. Peerless has the same parentage 
as Bettina. Perhaps its name indicates its quality. I 
rather think it does. What does The Rural say ? 
Delaware County, Ohio. 
Mr. Johnson, United States Consul to Hamburg, says 
it is not generally known that while the importation of 
American pork into Germany proper is absolutely forbid¬ 
den, it is permitted to import it into the bonded ware¬ 
house district of Hamburg and sell it there to outwaid- 
bound vessels. As this district is quite a city in itself, 
outward bound ships always provisioning there, and 
nearly 4,000 ships leaving the port every year, Mr. Johnson 
says it can readily be seen what a market it would be for 
the American product. On the principle that half a loaf 
is better than no bread, this is much better than to be ex¬ 
cluded entirely from the country and, doubtless, our im¬ 
porters will be only too willing to avail themselves of this 
advantage. 
Read the second cash-prize offer under Publisher's 
Desk on, page 716. 
IMPLEMENT NOTES. 
Loading Corn Fodder.— The picture shown at Fig. 313 
is re-engraved from Bulletin No. 10 of the Iowa Agri¬ 
cultural College. Everybody knows how hard it is to load 
corn-fodder. Low-down wagons lessen the labor, but it is 
hard enough at best to lift the heavy and clumsy bundles. 
This picture shows a device which works about on the > 
principle of the old-fashioned well-sweep. The following 
description is found in the bulletin: “ Fasten a piece of 
timber four by six inches across the hind end of a hay rack 
with four bolts. Through the center pf this cross-piece 
make a two-by-four-inch mortise, in which insert the tenon 
of a four-by-four-inch post six and one half or seven feet 
long, which should be braced on each side and in front. 
Bore an inch hole 10 inches deep in the top of the post. Get 
your blacksmith to make a contrivance similar to the row- 
lock of a boat, or to a clevis welded at the middle of its 
closed end to the end of a round iron a little less than one 
inch in diameter and 12 inches long, which should have a 
shoulder 10 inches from its lower end projecting one-half 
of an inch to rest on the top of the post. From the projec¬ 
tion to the holes for the clevis pin should be 10 or 12 inches. 
Then get a strong four- by six-inch piece of timber or a 
seasoned oak pole from the woods 20 feet long and bore a 
hole through it 11 or 12 feet from the front end for the 
“ clevis pin.” Boxt or spike a strong two-by-four-inch stud 
on the top of the sweep, so that it will increase the length 
of its hind end eight feet or more for the purpose of giving 
sufficient leverage to raise a shock of 100 hills of corn 
easily.” It is said that this machine can also be used for 
lifting bunches of green fodder for ensilage. It is also 
handy for unloading. 
More About Potato Sorters.— Separators for sorting 
fruit are surely coming into notice and demand. Hoover 
& Prout a few weeks ago spoke of the Collins Separator 
having spiral grooves which the potatoes must follow. 
This is not the case. The tubers are run through on the 
principle of the inclined plane. The slant is adjustable, 
and if there are very many small potatoes the slant is 
made less steep ; while if but few small ones are to be re¬ 
moved the tubers may run through faster. We aim that 
they should pass as rapidly as consistent with good work 
so as to avoid any unnecessary bumping, which, if exces¬ 
sive, may injure the skin. One advantage the Collins has 
over the Hoover Separator is that the handle is at the 
lower end, so that one can turn or rock the cylinder and 
at the same time pick out any crushed or rotten tubers. 
Another advantage lies in greater facility in separating the 
dirt from the small tubers. To one who has used a separ¬ 
ator this will appear of no small importance, and by the 
arrangement of the Collins machine not even a particle of 
effort on tne part of the operator is needed to effect this. 
W. D., in The Rural of September 13, shows au im¬ 
aginary sorter. One can see at once that with such a 
device the potatoes run into baskets out of reach of the 
person turning the cylinder, and that another hand, or 
rather, two more—one on each side—would be needed to 
pick out damaged tubers. This can be easily done in the 
Collins machine by the person who turns it, and cannot 
possibly be done in any other machine by the person who 
empties. Now my lower screen does not waste potatoes, 
and if much earth is mixed with them, it is amusing to see 
it pour through those half-inch meshes while the small 
tubers run into the basket. I have sorted many potatoes 
with it, and at first used a platform with half-inch cracks 
between the boards. The dirt lodged on the boards but 
does not on the wire screen. W. D.’s sorter is un¬ 
necessarily heavy and unwieldy. Practice shows that to 
expose the tubers to the greatest amount of surface con¬ 
sistent with convenience, a cylinder of a certain size 
should be used, and a machine with more than two 
cylinders at most, with space between to prevent clogging, 
would be clumsy; besides, the outside screen would re¬ 
volve with undue rapidity. With my screen we did think 
of using two cylinders; but preferred to have them en¬ 
tirely separate, so that if potatoes are dear and we wish to 
sort out but few, we can slip the proper cylinder into the 
mill; and so we can if we are sorting slender, long po¬ 
tatoes. We also have screens for sorting candies, peanuts, 
oranges, etc., etc. e. h. COLLINB, 
