112 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



"South of the Niagara escarpment, toward Batavia or Buii'alo, there is another 

 plain, which beyond Buttah) narrows down to a width of only one or two miles as 

 the State line is apj^roached. It is nowliere below 500 ft. nor above 800 ft. in eleva- 

 tion. This narrow strip Avhich borders the Erie shore is the true grape belt. Every- 

 where the southern margin of this plain is backed by an escarpment or ridge, which 

 quickly rises to a height of 500 or 600 ft. above the plain, and in some places is over 

 1,000 ft. above the lake. Therefore, the grape belt (in New York) is a narrow plain 

 extending northeastward from the Pennsylvania State line, and bounded on the north 

 by the lake, ou the south by a high range of hills. East of Silver Creek the plain 

 widens, and the bounding escarpment loses in elevation. This narrow plain is only 

 a small fragment of the real ])lain, for the waters of Lake Erie cover the greater 

 part of it. Indeed, the plain descends beneath the lake waters and ascends ou the 

 Canadian side. Not merely is a part of the plain now submerged, but at a recent 

 geological period more of it, and that part now occupied by the most flourishing 

 vineyards, was covered by the lake waters. Lake Erie now plays an important part 

 in modifying the climate of the grape belt; it formerly did important service in 

 modifying the soils." 



The bed rock underlying tliis region is upper Devonian shales and 

 sandstones above the horizon of the Hamilton, as revealed along the 

 lake shore and in gorges cutting the escarpment aod plain. The soils 

 from south to north across the grape belt vary sometimes in details, 

 but in general are as follows: Commencing on the hillsides with a 

 thin pebbly, clayey soil, at the bases of the hills, perhaps 250 ft. above 

 the lake, a gravelly soil with water-rounded pebbles is found. Going 

 on north ensues a steep slope of 20 to 30 ft., at the base of which is 

 clay continuing for several hundred feet or yards, when gravel again 

 appears. Then come one or two gravel terraces with clay at the bases, 

 and the descent from these to the lake is made over a clayey soil some- 

 times mixed with sand. The shore is usually a shale or clay bluff, 

 though sometimes a sandy beach. Throughout the entire grape belt 

 there are 3 distinct gravel areas in the shape of level-topjied terraces 

 extending approximately parallel to the Erie shore. Upon these 

 gravel regions the best vineyards are located. The gravel is usually 

 about 15 ft. in depth over clay or shale. 



The methods of geological deposition of these graveled areas and of 

 the till or bowlder clay of the hillside soils are discussed. The hillside 

 soils have proven of least value for grape and fruit raising. The char- 

 acteristic features of the modern beaches of Lake Erie are described 

 and illustrated, and the ancient beaches, as set forth by the gravel 

 regions, are compared with the modern and the close resemblances 

 pointed out. The number of gravel regions, representing ancient 

 beaches, varies from 1 to 5 in the grape belt, though there are usually 

 3 as before stated. 



The bulletin concludes with a resume of the geological history of this 

 part of Kew York, stating that the glaciers of the ice age are chiefly 

 responsible for tlie present condition of affairs. The climate of the 

 grape belt is stated to be of even greater importance in the success of 

 vineyards than is the soil itself. This to a great extent is controlled 

 by the lake, which in spring by its low temperature holds back the 



