GRAPE-GROWING SECTIONS OF NEW YORK 1241 



on Keuka Lake if it were trained as is the Concord in the 

 ( 'hantanqua arid Erie belt. The Catawba, however, is more re- 

 stricted in its adaptability to soils than is the Concord. It is more 

 susceptible to fungous troubles, and it is less tolerant of wet feet 

 than is the Concord. With average good care, the vine makes a 

 vigorous growth and even under neglect continues to produce a 

 fair crop. 



Its cluster characteristics are superior to Concord in point of 

 size, shape, and compactness. However, Concord is the higher 

 producer, even under like conditions of soil, climate, and care. 

 Catawba is superior to Concord in its keeping qualities, fre- 

 quently being held in storage till late in January. It hangs to 

 the vine well before picking, even after the leaves have practically 

 all dropped. It is used in large quantities in the making of the 

 sweet and dry Catawba wines of the Keuka Lake district. As a 

 dessert grape it is very popular in many localities, especially 

 when fully ripened. It is not the equal of Concord in the manu- 

 facture of unfermented grape juice, but there are possibilities un- 

 explored in combining the juice of Catawba with other varieties 

 for this purpose. Catawba may be classed as the leading red 

 grape of New York. 



NIAGARA 



This variety is at the present time the leading white grape of 

 the state. In quality it is not the equal either of the Concord or 

 the Catawba ; neither is it adapted to so diverse soil conditions. 

 The Lake Ontario plain is preeminently the Niagara section of 

 the state. A second but less important area for this variety lies 

 between Seneca and Cayuga lakes of the Central Lakes region. 

 A few vineyards of the variety are found in the Chautauqua dis- 

 trict and still fewer in the Hudson Valley. When fully ripe it is 

 a very showy grape, and for those who prefer the foxy taste 

 characteristic of most varieties of the Labrusca species, Niagara 

 furnishes it in unadulterated form. Too often Niagara is 

 shipped before it is fit for dessert purposes. This variety is par- 

 ticularly weak in root, and many vines are killed annually 

 through freezing. It does not mature its wood so well as Con- 

 cord, and many buds are injured by winter temperature. In 

 regions where black rot is prevalent, Niagara is quite often badly 



