THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 61 



table grapes. The grand total for the region was 280,869 ^o^is against 

 201,270 for all of eastern America. These figures give an idea of how 

 formidable a competitor to eastern America California had become by 

 1890. 



The census of 1900 shows but little increase in the total production of 

 American grapes. A few figures will show the relative status of viticulture 

 in the several regions in 1S90 and 1900. 



Eastern region . . 

 Middle region . . . 

 Western region . . 

 Southern region . 

 California region. 



All of the regions we have been discussing, in which native grapes are 

 grown, show a considerable falling off in production excepting the eastern 

 one where the increase more than counterbalances the decrease in the 

 other regions. The census report for 1900 shows three new states in the 

 list of those producing grapes in commercial quantities. In the decade 

 preceding, Michigan came up from an insignificant commercial production 

 in 1890 to fifth rank in 1900 with 20,765 tons. Iowa and Oklahoma, states 

 from which grapes were not reported in commercial quantities in 1890, 

 produced 3701 and 3055 tons in 1900. 



The shifting of grape areas indicated in the above paragraph was caused 

 for most part by the grape diseases. The mildew and rot had ruined the 

 grape industry in some of the older regions. The newer regions, as in 

 Michigan, either enjoy comparative immunity from these troubles or the 

 vineyards had not yet been attacked by them. In the case of the eastern 

 region. New York and Pennsylvania, in the Chautauqua district, along the 

 shores of Lake Erie in both states, where the production increased greatly 

 during this decade, the vineyards are almost wholly immune to black-rot 

 and are comparatively free from the mildew. In the other grape districts 

 of this region these troubles are kept well in check by spraying. 



