GRAPE REGIONS AND THEIR DETERMINANTS 19 



exceptionally favorable for grape-growing. Climate is the 

 chief determinant of the boundaries of this belt, since there 

 are several types of soil upon which grapes do equally well in 

 the region, and when the climate changes at the two extremities 

 of the belt where the escarpment becomes low, or when the 

 distance between the lake and the escarpment is great, grape- 

 growing ceases to be profitable. 



The growers of this region are organized into selling associa- 

 tions so that estimates of acreage and yields are obtainable. 

 At present writing, 1918, there are in this belt in New York 

 about 35,000 acres of grapes ; in Pennsylvania and Ohio, about 

 15,000 acres, much the greater part of which is in Pennsylvania. 

 The average yield of grapes to the acre for the region is about 

 two tons. The average total production for the past five years 

 has been about 100,000 tons, of which 65,000 tons are shipped 

 as table-grapes, and 35,000 tons are used in the manufacture of 

 wine and grape-juice. Among varieties, Concord reigns su- 

 preme in the Chautauqua belt. The writer, in 1906, made a 

 canvass of the region, vineyard by vineyard, and found that 

 90 per cent of the acreage of the belt was set to Concord, 3 per 

 cent to Niagara, 2 per cent to Worden and the remaining 5 

 per cent to a dozen or more varieties of which INIoore Early and 

 Delaware led. 



The manufacture of grape-juice on a commercial scale began 

 in the Chautauqua belt and most of this product is still pro- 

 duced in the region. Here, only Concord grapes of the best 

 quality are used for grape-juice. The growth of this industry 

 is most significant for the future of grape-growing in the region. 

 Twenty years ago grape-juice was a negligible factor in the 

 grape industry of this region ; at present, the annual output 

 is in the neighborhood of 4,000,000 gallons. Grape-juice- 

 makers now determine the price of grapes for the region, and 

 while the quantity used is less than that for table-grapes, the 

 time is not distant when it will be greater. 



