Extension Work in Horticulture. 201 



its trend is changed to the east. As soon as its altitude decreases, 

 and the distance from the lake increases, the thermal stratum thins 

 by widening, and much of its benefits are lost to the grape grower. 

 It will be found by careful observation that the soil of almost the 

 entire United States is as favorable for the growth of the grap vine 

 as is that of this location, and the success in grape culture would be 

 just as remunerative if the same climatic conditions existed as with 

 us. Hence it is found that the peculiar infinence we have is 

 worth to us four times as much per acre as the soil is. 



Conditions of Climate Favoring the Grape. 

 [From the Transactions of the Chautauqua Horticultural Society.] 



1. Exemptions from frost, especially in the fall months. The 

 vine begins to leaf about May 10th ; it is in blossom June 15th to 

 2Uth ; in 90 days from the blossoming the early, and in 120 days 

 the late grapes are ripe. In southern Chautauqua and in parts of 

 Cattaraugus and Allegany counties the vine will grow, but three 

 years ago in all that section there was a killing frost on September 

 21. In this lake shore section, with one exception, there has not 

 been a damaging frost before October 20 in twenty-five years. In 

 1887 the first killing frost did not occur until after the first week in 

 November. 



2. The high mean temperature of the summer months. In the 

 fierce heat and drought of mid-summer, the surface vegetation of 

 the garden suffers, the pastures are scorched as by fire, but the 

 vine, sending its roots three, four and even five feet into the earth, 

 is able to withstand the severe trial if the tillage is good. 



3. Conditions securing dryness of the atmosphere and perfect cir- 

 cnlation of air. Lake Erie is by far the most shallow of the five 

 great lakes, having an average depth of only TO feet. In conse- 

 quence, it is sooner affected by the summer heat. In mid-summer 

 we have in the latter part of the day a constant lake breeze blow- 

 ing inland, and during part of the night a contrary current. Going 

 back from the water, the land gradually rises in a succession of ter- 

 races. June, July and August are the dangerous months for dis- 

 ease, and just then is experienced this climatic condition of dryness 

 and high temperature. Bulletin ISTo. 7, Botanical Division, Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, 1888, says : "At Sandusky, on the shore of 



