Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-11-28

lug them To market and running the risk
of selling them at a loss.
Hand labor has been cheapened as much
as possible for in the past this has
amounted to a considerable sum, especially
when summer tying to the stakes and
bagging the grapes were resorted TO. Ac-
corling to the Kniffon system now gener-
ally adopted, summer tying of the vines to
the wires Is done away with. This system
renews the vines every year back to the
crown on the lowest wire, and trains the
vines out in opposite directions, one for
each OF the two wires used. The old system
required three wires for support, but only
two are needed by the Kniffen system.
This is best for the strong growing vari-
cites, but some Of the more delicate vari-
cites. such as the Concords, Wordens and Nj
agaras have to be supplied with at least
three and sometimes with four wires. The
old method Of bagging the grapes to avoid
the rot is no longer practised generally.
The bags cost quite II sum on a l0O.acre field,
and the labor of putting them over the
punches entailed another large item of ex-
pense. A few growers still adopt this sys-
TEN, but tine majority use the Bordeaux
mixture early in the season, which pretty
eifeotuRlly keeps nil fungi from the vines
aud fruit
The question of extending and improving
the market for the grape crop has long
been anxiously studied by those who ex-
pect to see the industry overdonc, and to.
day there are several uses for grapes which
are rapidly assuming Importance to the
growers One Of the latest schemes is to
extend the marketing season into winter
by a system Of cold storage. Cold storage
grapes during the holidays, aud well to.
ward spring, are novelties as yet but it
will not be many years before every hotel
and private house will have such grapes
on their tables. BY picking the grapes
carefully in sound punches, and placing
them in the storage house until the stems
have dried up and all moisture has evap.
GRATED they are lt TO preserve for u long
time by means OF cold. They are packed
in boxes lined and covered over the ton
with parafined paper.
According to this method the Niagara
grapes can be kept until after the LIST of
january, and the Vcrgennes can be pre-
served until the following spring. The
grapes shrink little, but for all practical
purposes they are us good as when first
picked from the vines. So far tho trouble
has been that the public does not know
enough about cold storage grapes to make
the demand general, but every year this
difficulty is lessened.
another method Of utilizing the cranes
is to convert them into uniermented grape
juice. Nearly every soda water store In
the cities now has It's white stone ing
marked with pure unfetlnented grape
Iuiel" although ten years ago such a
thing was not known. This fresh Juice OF
the grapes makes delightful beverage.
and It il considered almost as wholesome
as milk. The juice is simply pressed out
heated to certain temperature and bottled
while hot, This will Keep for a year with
out spelling, and by mixing little water
with it ine drink is made. Several com.
panies have already been formed to make
this unfermented grape juice, and tho
market is extending so rapidly that the
process will afford welcome outlet for the
surplus crop.
The canning Of grapes is no new indus.
try, although OF late It has assumed morn
Importance, because grapes are becoming
so abundant. Where grapes are very cheon
canning can be carried on proftably. Ripht
IN the midst Of the large grape growina re.
gions canning goes on every year. nnd
farmers are clad to sell their surplus cron
to tho factories. In canning the rrnne
skins and pulp5 are. both used. The cranes
are popped out Of the skins by prrssing
them, ana then boiled until they can be
Rubbed through sieve to separat, tho
pits The skins are boiled longer than tbe
pulps, aud the latter ARE added after the
former have been stewing for some lime
Sugaris added to suit the taste. and ,hon
the whole is brought to a boil. The cranes
are sealed Immediately in airtipht iars
bottles or cans OF any size. The oprrntinn
1S 80 simple that many growers 40 tLe
work on their own vineyards. The canned
grapes make delicious preserves In wintcr
una the price is made very reasonable =
Shantauqua Cor. New York Post.