THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 89 



The climate of the Hudson Valley changes rapidly as one goes up the 

 River because of the diversity of its physical features and the wide variety 

 of atmospheric influences to which it is subject. In the part of the Valley 

 in which grapes are grown the summer temperature is high owing to the 

 position between ranges of mountains and to the southerly winds which 

 prevail at this season. In the winter the winds are northerly and the 

 temperature is often low making the cultiire of tender grapes hazardous. 

 The influence of the river, really a broad estuary in the grape regions, at 

 all seasons is most favoral ile for fruit-growing. 



The lowlands of the Hudson Valley receive a somewhat small amount 

 of rainfall as compared with the rest of New York because when moisture 

 is being carried inland from the Atlantic it is largely precipitated by the 

 mountains and highlands of New England. This is favorable to grape- 

 growing. Another desirable feature of the rainfall of this Valley is that 

 the maximum summer downfall is in July whereas in many parts of the 

 State it is in September or October. This relatively light rainfall in the 

 maturing months is more .marked in this than in any other of the grape 

 districts of the State. 



The recorded history of commercial viticulture dates back to 1827 

 when Mr. Robert Underbill and his two sons, R. T. and W. A. Underbill, 

 planted a vineyard of Catawba and Isabella at Croton Point which eventu- 

 ally covered seventy-five acres. For some years this vineyard practically 

 supplied the large markets of the region with grapes. In 1829, Rufus 

 Barrett of New Paltz, began shipping Isabella grapes in small quantities 

 to the New York market. Barrett lived in a settlement of French Hugue- 

 nots, who after having experimented more or less with European sorts, 

 early in the nineteenth century began planting native varieties. It is 

 probable that Barrett obtained his inspiration for planting and knowledge 

 of vine-growing from these Frenchmen. 



In 1837 a French vintner, John Jacques, set out a vineyard for wine- 

 making at Washingtonville, Orange County. The varieties set were 

 Catawba and Isabella, purchased from Prince of Long Island. Sx^me of 

 these vines are still living, vigorous and thrifty at three score years and ten. 

 The original plantation consisted of but a half acre but in 1838 this was 

 increased to ten acres. This is probably the oldest vineyard of native 



