Geological History of the Chautauaua Grape 



Belt. 



Introduction. 



This study was made primarily for the purpose of ascertaining the 

 natural conditions which favor fruit growing in the grape belt of 

 the Erie shore of New York. It became immediately evident that 

 these conditions had to do both with the soil and the climate. Con- 

 cerning the latter, little detailed information of value could be 

 obtained ; for in order to gain this information, meteorological 

 observations must be carried on for a series of years at stations located 

 in different places. In order to find out how the soil varies, a rather 

 careful study of characteristics and distribution was made, and the 

 satisfactory study of these involved the question of origin. Since 

 the origin is a question of some interest, it will be included in this 

 paper. 



In general, it may be said that the two factors of soil and climate 

 have conspired to make the grape belt a district admirably adapted 

 to fruit raising. While each is of importance, it is evident that the 

 climatic peculiarities are of more importance than the soil. Both 

 the characteristics of climate and soil are due to the topographic 

 peculiarities and the geological history of the region included 

 within the grape belt and in its immediate neighborhood. 



The time occupied in the field study has amounted to only about 

 three weeks — two in June, one in September and two days in 

 November — and therefore a great amount of detail can not be 

 expected. Although a little work was done east of Silver Creek, 

 the study was practically limited to the region between this town 

 and the state line. During the study, I have received many cour- 

 tesies from the residents of the grape belt, and I am particularly 

 indebted to Mr. J. W. Spencer, of Westfield. In September I was 

 aided by Mr. T. L. Watson, of Cornell University. In running the 

 three lines of levels, Mr. M. D. Tennant, of Westfield, did the 

 leveling and the writer acted as rodman. 



