Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-09-10
Marketing Grapes.

lOdI tllc nISU VI Ocpt0IuDCI DIS DOSSlOIO.
T. b. Terry i1 Practical Farmer.
Marketing Grapes.
Since grapes are to be the principal
fruit for general use found in our mark
cts this year, the following advice as to
picking and packing grapes, from the
New York Vineyardist, is of value
"Grapes, if placed in the market only
half colored, sour and unripe, generally
spoil the demand for weeks thereafter
People buy them because they look
passably well, try them, pronounce
them unfit to eat, which is the truth,
and cannot be induced to buy again for
some time to come. Wait, therefore,
as matter of policy, as well as princi
pie, until after your early fruit is fully
colored and really ripe and good to eat,
and follow this rule implicitly with the
later varieties also. Then whoever
buys of your shipments will buy again,
and the whole family will be eager for
more and more as the season advances,
and the consumption will be greatly in
creased and prices maintained. This is
a substantial gain; and this is not all, as
a ripe crop of grapes will weigh much
more than those but half ripened; and
there is less shrivel and shrink to them,
as they will not like some other kinds
of fruit,) ripen after they are picked,
and only day or two after they are
gathered they begin to present sickly
and inferior appearance.
cit may be truthfully asserted that, as
a general rule, sour and unripe grapes
are the principal causes of gluts in the
city markets and while the shipping of
such fruit may, in some unfavorable
seasons 0ike those of 1888 and 1880 be,
to some extent, unavoidable in good
seasons, when crops ripen up well and
early, there is no excuse for shipping
sour grapes at the opening or any time
thereafter. With proper distribution
Of shipments and shipping in reason
able amounts, no market glut can long
continue if the fruit is of good quality,
and none need be feared this year.
Gathering, or picking grapes, should
always be done when the vines and
fruit are dry; and the packing trays
containing fruit should not be allowed
to remain outside of the packing house,
or other shelter, after the evening dew
begins to perceptibly fall. If the grapes
are being picked for table uses too
much care cannot be exercised in clip
ping the clusters and handling them
so as not to mar their bloom; and in
trimming them for packing taking out
out all imperfect berries, etc. the same
constant care is requisite in order that
they may 90 into the boxes or baskets
as near perfect as possible and reach
the markets in the very best condition
and order.
''In seasons when grapes are plenty,
but inferior, and therefore cheap, las
in 1881 good packing excluded nearly
everything except full and fair lunches
the rest all going to the wine-press-
but we apprehend that, as this year the
grapes will be a less crop and be likely
to command much higher prices, pack
ing will include smaller and less perfect
clusters, provided that their berries are
ripe and of good average quality. With
proper picking and packing, the send
ing of none but ripe and good fruit to
market, and not being in a hurry to
rush all to the front as soon as it is fit to
ship, the grape-growers of this section
of the state will gather rich harvest
from the vine this year.
The Saddle Horse.
A saddle horse can hardly be said to