408 l\EroKT OF THE Department of Horticultuke of the 



qua Grape Belt, a strip of land from two to six miles wide extend- 

 ing along the shore of Lake Erie for about 35 miles. This belt is 

 recognized as the most important grape area east of the Pacific 

 Coast. Though narrow, the strip is so variable in topography, 

 climate and soil that the environment of the experiment should be 

 noted carefully, for there is a marked difference in yield and 

 quality of grapes in vineyards which seemingly differ but little 

 in the natural factors named. 



Topography. — The Chautauqua Grape Belt is divided length- 

 wise, parallel to the lake, by a high escarpment, the " Hill " of the 

 region. The land between the escarpment and the lake is the 

 Erie lowlands, the surface and soil of which are comparatively 

 uniform. Erom the crest of the escarpment the land gradually 

 ascends in an undulating, sometimes hilly plain, the " uplands " 

 of the grape belt. The Wilcox farm is in the uplands, about 2^4 

 miles from Lake Erie and at an altitude of 200 feet above it. 



Climate. — The lowlands and uplands differ considerably in 

 climate, due to local topography, and grape-growers in the belt 

 generally believe that peculiarities of climate have much influence 

 on the growth of grapes in the region. It is held, with some show 

 of data to substantiate the belief, that the rainfall is greater and 

 the mean temperature lower on the uplands than on the lowlands. 

 The prevailing winds are from the west and south. 



Soils. — The soils of the Chautauqua Belt are of glacial origin 

 and contain much foreign material in the shape of boulders, small 

 stones, gravel and finer debris. Yet, in some vineyards, the soil 

 corresponds so closely with the rocks underneath as to indicate 

 that the upper layer is of local origin. Practically all of the vine- 

 yards are on one or another of the several soils of the Dunkirk 

 series. Many vineyards, as is the case with this experimental one, 

 are grorwing on two or more quite distinct soils. 



Vineyard plats. — The experimental vineyard is planted on two 

 somewhat distinct soils on the Wilcox farm. One division is on 

 Dunkirk gravel which many vineyardists believe grows grapes of 



