Arizona republican., 1891-05-12
MAINE lSsssEs.
The Eastern States Have soms Goo, !9!o .s. Varieties, t;&si

yo ss Varieties st.;si & s. The grapes in cultivation on this coast are mostly varieties of the old world species (Yitis vinifera) None of its varieties succeed east of the Rocky mountains. Over there they plant vari- ties of their twenty odd native species, such as have been improved by growing thousands of them from seeds, fruiting the best and then selecting the very best for planting: also hybrids between these native species and also, between them and the old world species, have, devel-:: oped varieties that are really and truly choice fruits. .;'
 The eastern portion of the United States is the richest part of the world in the grape family, and far better vari- ties have there been found growing wild than in any other country. Three vari- ties found growing wild there, of three distinct species. generations ago are yet in cultivation and classed among the finest of their species. They are the Catawba and Norton's Virginia, both of which were found at an early day as wild vines in Virginia, and the Scupper- nong, found all along the south Atlantic coast. The finding of such choice fruits wild is very good evidence that race of semi-civilized fruit-growers once oc- cupied that country and grew and i'm proved fruit. And there is also good evi- dence of the same kind in the southern states, and in Iowa and Wisconsin, that such a people grew and improved the native plums. The Indians in Georgia and Alabama took kindly to and prized the apple so soon as it was introduced and grew many fine varities of it from seed; also peaches, as witness the Straw berry or Indian peach. Thousands of varieties of native grapes have been grown from seed, fruited and named. Out of the whole mass, there are now a hundred or more thought worthy of culture but, perhaps, twenty varieties would include all that are of value. They include grapes for all purposes, for eating or table use, cooking and can ming and for wine, everything that the grape is used for, except drying and raisins. Probably there are some of them, or varieties will be produced, of value for drying, though, owing to cli- matic disadvantages, drying such fruits east is little thought of. A good raisin grape will he hard to gain from any of the native species, even fit was, raisins could only be made there with artificial heat.
 Many of the eastern grapes are only suited to particular soils and climates. Nearly all of the varieties do finely nearly everywhere on this coast, and some of them are really choice fruits; and, what makes them of great value in many parts of this coast, is the fact that they are much harder and healthier than the European grape. They can be grown high up on the mountains and in eastern Oregon, Washington and Idaho, where it would be too cold for any of the varities of Wits vinipera.
 A few varieties such as the Concord, Worden, Niagara, Clinton, etc, that succeed well generally in the east, have been largely and proftably planted, and great deal of money has been made in planting them. Western New York and Northern Ohio are great centers of the wine industry. The three named varieties produce from three to seven tons to the acre. A recent report says established vineyards well cared for, yield an average of five tons to the acre, and sell at from $50 to $l00 ton, the average being over $50 ton, and over four tons 10 the acre over large dis trict. They have their grape and vine diseases tbere, the same as, or even much worse than we have here, but they manage eventually to control them all.
 In the line of wine grapes the old Catawba still leads. It is in every way good grape, good to eat, choice for wine, good shipper and keeper. But unfortunately the vine, though a strong grower and great bearer is delicate, and can only be successfully grown in re- stricted locations peculiarly favorable to it. The main trouble with it is, its roots are not phyloxera 0he grape root louse) proof. Why do not those bright men east graft the Catawba on roots re- sistant to the pbyloxera? It is fact that CatawEa wine is selling to-day, and has been, and will, at higher price than the average of the best California wines. And it is also probable that finer wine could be made from it here in large extent of territory, than is possible anywhere east. It would cer- tainly be of value for blending.
 There are many other choice wine grapes among the eastern native grapes. The Germans of Illinois and of Mis- souri are constantly experimenting and bringing out new ones, and our people should experiment more with them, for they are all rich in aroma and bouquet, and of value in imparting these and their sprightly qualities to the more sober Vitus vinifera. While east they are nearly all lacking in sugar, fault they would not have here.
 D. B. WEIR.