Cornell Univeesity, ) 



Ithaca, N. Y., Jamiary 1, 1896. j 



The Honor aMe CoTnmissioner of Agrimdtiire^ Albany. 



Sir: One of the most obvious circimistances connected with the 

 cultivation of many fruits is the fact that the most successful plan- 

 tations of them are conhned within somew^hat narrow areas or in 

 well marked geograpliic regions. This circumstance is emphatic in 

 the grape belt of Chautauqua county. It becomes a matter of great 

 importance to determine the reasons for the existence of these fruit 

 belts, and to ascertain how far their limits may probably be extended 

 with profit. A study of the surface geology and topography of any 

 of these belts may be expected to afford most interesting and valu- 

 able facts for the pomologist, for this type of investigation is yet 

 practically untouched by scientific inquir}^ In Chautauqua county 

 there is a particular reason for such an inquiry because of the fact 

 that the entire Erie slope is not equally adapted to the grape, 

 although vineyards have been almost promiscuously planted upon it. 

 It is necessary that the true grape belt be delimited and charted. 

 In seeking to take up this investigation, w-e have been fortunate to 

 secure the services of R. S. Tarr, Professor of Geology in Cornell 

 University. It is a happy circumstance that Chautauqua county, 

 which originated and matured the movement for Experiment Station 

 extension work, should now be the scene of the first specific attempt 

 in this country, on the part of an Experiment Station, to analyze 

 the physical geographv of a fruit belt. 



L. H. BAILEY. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 



Introduction 12T 



Topography 128 



The Bed Rock , 129 



The Soils 130 



General Description of the Soils 130 



The Hillside Soils 132 



The Gravel Ridges 131 



The Lake Clay Soils 136 



Shale Gravel 138 



The Relative Value of the Soils 138 



The Modern Beaches 13^ 



The Ancient Beaches 141 



The Gravel Ridges 145 



♦ Variations in the Gravel Ridges ]47 



Irregularities and Level of Gravel Ridges 148 



Interpretation 149 



Resume of the Geological History 150 



Climatic Conditions J 55 



Most Favorable Places for the Location of Vineyards 156 



Influence of the Gravel Ridges 15T 



