Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-06
THE CULTURE OF GRAPES.
How the Industry Began In Chautauqu
County. New York-The Pickers.

How the Industry Began In Chautauqua
County, New York-The Pickers.
A score of years ago when a man named |
Harris came from England and founded a
community" at Brockton, in the township
Of Portland, about midway on the Lake
Shore railroad from Buffalo to Erie, he saw
the adaptabiiity of the region to the culture
Of the grape, and began vineyard, which
has since become famous, and the reputation
of which would have become still more ex-
tended but for the disruption of the settle
ment. But the start made at that time has
given Brockton the lead in grape growing,
and it is now the recognized centre of the in
dustry, with the only wine cellars and the
largest shipping station.
In the township of Portland there are now
5000 acres devoted to grapes, and the yield
under careful management is from three TO
eight tons per acre.
The Concord is the standard grape, and
probably seven-tenths of all the grapes grown
on the lake shore are of this variety, as it is
hardy, a large producer, stands transporta-
| ton well, and can be preserved for months
| But the Niagara is favorite variety, white,
not unlike the Malaga grape in appearance,
| and of very delicate flavor. While all the
| grapes require much care, especially In the
| early part of the season, more than the usual
| time and labor are spent on the Niagaras,
some of the growers even going to the ex-
treme of tying paper bags over the punches
when partly grown to prevent bruising and
mildew. To a stranger the sight of ten acre
lot Of grape vines bearing brown paper bags
is enough to excite the risibilities. In one
vineyard this season 90, 900 Of these bags wert
thus used.
The harvesting Of sins grape crop is th'
period Of anxiety for the viniculturist, and
like the hop grower, he brings all the fore
possible into service-lterally "his sister
and his cousins and his aunts,' When th
harvest is about to begin the housewife cook
many times the usual quantity Of food, an
until the vines have been robbed of thei
punches of fruit little attention is paid t
/, creature comforts. From early in the morn
ing until dusk the vineyards swarm wit
= pickers and the punches are carefully ciiI
ped from the stalks and packed in baskets Q
trays, some of them being wrapped in tissu
paper to insure their reaching market in tE
best possible condition. Only the small an
, imperfect punches are sent to the wine ce
!, lars. The markets for the grapes are prime
I palIy in the west, Chicago taking the bulk
d the product.
9 The wine cellars at Brockton have a sto
"a age capacity of about $4,000 gallons, and a
!, not large enough TO meet the demands of Il
"a trade, as several of the western railwa
l. are using the wines in their buffet cars al
n station refreshment rooms. The wines 81
e from one to several dollars per gallon. Sor
I. of the grape growers whose temperance pr
t clivities prevent their selling refuse bunch
to the cellars, scald the juice and preserve
If and the beverage would not offend &C
ia noisseur, while the natives esteem it high
4. Correspondence New York Times.