574 Report of the Department of Horticulture of the 



a decline in yields. 



As the industry grew there should have followed a proportionate 

 increase in tonnage. In other words, if 30,000 acres yielded 96,000 

 tons in 1900, 40,000 acres should have yielded 128,000 tons or 

 thereabouts in 1913. But with the increased acreage there has 

 followed only a slight gain in tonnage. Table I, from data collected 

 and compiled in the office of " The Grape Belt," 1 shows the total 

 production in car loads shipped or used locally for the period from 

 1900 to 1913 inclusive. 



Table I. — Grape Production in Chautauqua Belt, 1900-1913. 



1900 (estimated) . . . 8000 cars 1907 5186 cars 



1901 6669 cars 1908 4323 cars 



1902 5062 cars 1909 7561 cars 



1903 2952 cars 1910 (estimated) . . . 5700 cars 



1904 7479 cars 1911 8100 cars 



1905 5362 cars 1912 7528 cars 



1906 5364 cars 1913 3957 cars 



40888 cars 42355 cars 



A study of Table I discloses the fact that notwithstanding a 

 greatly increased acreage, during the period beginning with 1900, 

 the yields have been considerably less in many years and in only 

 one, 1911, has it been larger. The total yield for the last half of 

 the period is thus only 3| per ct. greater than that of the first half. 



WHY HAVE YIELDS DECREASED? 



Undoubtedly the chief reason for the failure of the yield to keep 

 pace with the acreage has been the planting of vineyards on soils 

 unfitted for the grape because of thinness, infertility and poor 

 drainage. Vineyards planted under any of these conditions were 

 doomed to failure from the beginning. But there are also many 

 old and young vineyards on good soils that are not producing profit- 

 able annual crops, indicating that something beside the soil is amiss. 

 On these good soils two or three fair crops are often harvested and 

 yields then diminish. Many plantings that a few years ago promised 

 well, today are but average vineyards, or must even be classed as 

 poor. 



1 A semi-weekly paper published at Dunkirk, N. Y. 



