Evening journal., 1908-09-12
DELAWARE AS A
BIG VINEYARD
Delaware Grapes Now Equal
Quality Of Those of
New York
COMMITTEE INVESTIGATES


DOVER. Del. Sept 12.-Grapes which
were practically abandoned as a profit
able fruit crop in Delaware by such fruit
growers as e. II. Bancroft, ]. w. Killen
and J. G. Brown. are now about to be
taken up as a great and profit-maHing in
dustry here.
J. F. Moore and f. T. Iipwell. the COM
mittee of Delaware fruit growers who are
introducing the cultivation of fine grapesl
as an additional industry of the fertile lit
tie State, received word on Friday of this
week from Chatauqua, N. Y, where they
had sent some specimen Concords and
Moore's Early for comparison with the
far-famed Chatauqua grapes.
To the delight of the Delawareans. word
came back that the Delaware grapes COM
pared favorably with the Chatauquas in
both flavor and color and the Concords
were as good, If not better than those pro-
duced in the Empire State, a great grape
belt this year.
Grape culture will now be taken up onI
a large scale in Delaware Both Mr..
Moore and Mr.. Hipwell-and they have in
terested Chancellor John r. Nicholson as
well-have now devoted a large acreage
to their grape vineyards and Mr.. Moore
expects to have, from the area already
planted, 1900 cases next year.
'These old Delawareans kept trying to
discourage me by telling us that we could
never get the New York flavor" said Mr..
Moore last evening. Both Messrs. Moore
and Hipwell are native New Workers who
have recently purchased fine fruit farms
here 81 must confess" continued Mr
Moore, who held the Chatauqua report in
his hand as he laughed and laughed over
the success of the Delaware venture, that
they had me going for awhile. OF course
we felt sure that they had not studied
all the intricacies of the business as we
were compelled to do in New York.
Couldn't get the flavor! Well II this
fruit has not the flavor, then no fruit ever
had navor!"
Mr.. Moore here pointed TO some beautiful
small baskets of Concords, packed in his
carriage for some Dover merchant who
had called for them. ''They are rich in
flavor. and I'll say TO you that for that
kind of fruit the market Of this country
is unlimited The people will buy all you
can raise. if the whole of Delaware were
a vineyard"
The two years OF experimenting given to
the raising of fancy grapes i'm the Dover
fruit belt has delighted the fruit culturists.
They declare that they have ascertained
these remarkable conditions:
That grape vineyards can be established
in Delaware at cost of $50 an acre; in
New York it costs $50.
That grapes here have only one enemy
the rosebug-and he only damages the
Moore's Early. and does not injure Con-
cords or Catawbas.
That grapes. like all small fruit, only
take out of the soil twenty-five per CEN
tum of the fertility, the vitality that is
extracted by wheat and corn. This is a
marked advantage.
That vineyard work affords most de-
sirable light work in winter.
That while it means oceans Of work. yet
the more labor tnat can be profitably en-
ployed, the more work there IS to do. the
more money comes in.
That vineyard work is not only pleasant
but profitable TO the women and children
of the family; thus employing labor which
cannot be applied to grain and heavy pro-
duce work.
That fruit farms were successful vine
yards have been established in this stare
are now so advanced in price and value
that many of the owners will not sell.
That Concord grapes, raised with the
favor and color attained this year. pay
the grower in Delaware. after all labor
supplies, interest on investment and loss
is deducted, a clear profit of ten per
| centum.
Grapes require trimming and pruning in
the winter. all the wood being cut cut,
careful cultivating with harrows and cul-
tivators through the spring, tying up in
the early summer, and picking in the late
summer. For this last work there are
/ special cutting scissors used. The grapes
are carefully hacked. stems hidden and
fuR grapes upward, and they are ready
for shipment to the fruit stands. steamers
and hotels.