The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-01
NO MORE MALAGA GRAPES SOLD.
What the Retailers Label Such Are
Grapes From AImeria.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun
THE grapes that are sold by the fruit
dealers of this country as Malaga grapes"
said a commission merchant, ARE not
Malaga grapes at all. genuine Malaga
grape is the rarest grape that ever came
to our markets. and is nowadays really
never seen here. 1t is a grape so tender
and delicate that 1t will not stand ship
ment well. and importations that have
arrived here in good condition had to be
disposed of almost on the moment If the
importer hoped to realize on his venture
The Malaga grape crop is nearby all
utilized for raisins and in the making OF
that Malaga wine connoisseurs talk 50
knowingly and unctuously about and have
never seen, much less tasted.
The white and pinkish-white grapes
you buy here as Malaga grapes grow in
the almost inaccessible mountain regions
OF Spain in the district of Almeria. Unlike
the Malaga, the Almeria grape is the
hardest grape that grows. 1t is like the
region that is its native soil. That re-
glon is wild and primitive, with lusy
people inhabiting 1T. The vineyards ar'
nifty miles back from the sea, without
road connecting them with outside COM
munication. The intermediate country Is
infested by wild beasts and still more saw
age outlaws. and tourists have not yet
ventured to include that part Of Spain IN
their wanderlngs. Only one American mas
ever yet ventured into that isolated re.
gion, and that was Charles Coodsell OF
this city.
The average grape crop of the Almera
district is nearly half million barrels, OF
iorty pounds each-the squatty, tuo-lAe
receptacles the grapes come to this mar.
Ket in. That makes about 10000 tons Oh
grapes that are transported these hfty
miles between the vineyards and the
Wharf at Almeria on the backs OF donkeys
through the mountain wilderness me
vineyards are all small holdings OF the
mountain peasants and yield about nV9
tons to the acre. The usual price receVea
Tor the grapes, delivered on the wharf s'
Almeria, packed in the barrels, the pach-
ing being done at the vineyards, is Genus
a pound. The cork dust in which the
rruit is packed is taken TO Almeria on the
vessels that bring away the grapes, ana =
sold to the grape-growers, who carry II
over the mountains on their donkeys on
their return trips.
The harvesting Of this unique grap9
- AoiiC August 4 ~ -.
which transport the grapes across the ~
cannot reach the Almeria wharf because
OF shallow water. They lie at ancno
half a mile or so off. The grapes are ca,
ried to the vessels in rowboats of anuqu'
pattern and small capacity. The AIM
rian grape-growers and handlers saVase5s
resent any effort to introduce improves
methods Of transfer. -,
The grapes begin to reach New IT,, ~
about Oct. l. This market handles auog is
half the crop, or perhaps 100000 palI ..c
The importers sell to dealers only py aus
ton, which sales are held on stated uey,
at the produce exchange, from OctoDei ,or
April They are cataloged and SOFA Az A
what they are-Almeria grapes Ihey ov
not become Malaga grapes until 80, ~
reach the hands OF the retailers In 10
grapes are the nearest 10 being impes.'ya
able of all the fruits that grow ! ma ma
had them sound as the day they W. W.
picked from the vines in Spain more N''
a year after they were picked"