Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-10-11
RAISE YOUR OWN M1L1GAs.

C'rom the New York SUM
The grapes that are sold by the fruit
dealers of this country as Malaga
grapes, said a commission merchant.
are not Malaga grapes at al. A gen
Uine Malaga grape is the r3rest grape
tina, ever came 10 our markets. and is
nowadays rarely ever seen here. 1t is
grape so tender and delicate that IL VIII
not stand shipment well. and importa-
tons that have arrived here in good
condition had 10 be disposed Of almost
on the moment if the importer hoped 10
realize on his venture. The Malaga
grape crop is nearly always utilized for
raisins and in the making of that Malaga
wine cOnnOiSseurs talk so knowingly
and unCtiOusly about and have never
seen, much less tasted.
The white and pinEisn-white grapes
You buy here as Malaga grapes in the al
most inaccessible mountain regions Of
Spain. in the district of Almer!a. I'm
like the Malaga The Almeri1 grape :
the hardest grape that grows. Ii is like
the region that is IFS native soil. The
region is wild and primatiye with q
lusJy people inhabiJing it, The
vineyards are fifty yards back from the
sea. without q road connecting them
with Outside communication. The in
termediate country is infested by wild
beasts and still more savage outlaws,
and tourists have not yet ventured 10 in
clude that part of Spain in their wander
ings. Only one American has ever yet
vanUred into th2t isolated region, and
that was Charles Go0dsell Of this city.
The average grape crop Of the A.mer-
ia district is nearly 100000 barrels OF 40
pounds each-the squatty. tub-like re-
ceptac,es the grapes come TO this market
in. That makes about 10000 tons Of
grapes that are transported these nifty
miles between the vineyards and the
wharf at Almeria on the backs OF don
KEYS through the mountain Wilderness.
The vineyards are all small holdings OF
the mountain peasants and yield about
five tons to The acre. The usual price
received for the grapes. delivered on the
wharf at A,meria. packed in the barrels
the packing done al the vineyards, Is =
cents a pCund The cork dust in which
the fruit is packed is taken to Almer.a
On the vessels that bring away the
cranes and is sold 10 the grape growers
who carry il over the mountains on
their donkeys on their return trips.
The harvesting of this unique grape
croo is done during August. The yes
sells which transport the grapes across
the sea cannot reach the AlmeTia wharf
because Of shallow water. They lie al
anchor halsa mile or so off. The grapes
are carried to the vessels in rowboais
of unique pattern and small capacity
The Almerian grape growers and hand
lers sayags,y resent any etfor, TO n
trosmce improved methods OF transfer
"The grapes begin TO reach New YORK
about October l. This market handles
about half the crop, or perhaps 100000
barrels. The importers sell dealers only
nv auction. which sales are held on
stated DAYS at the Produce Exchange
from October to April They are ca,l-
Iogued and sold for what they are-A!-
mer.a grapes. They do no, become VA.
aga cranes until they reach the hands OF
me retailers. These grapes are the
nearest TO being imperishable OF all tae
frnits that grow. l have had them
e5rnd as the day when they were picked
RON the vines in Spain more than a
wear after they were picked