THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 8l 



black-rot, downy mildew, or " brown-rot," powdery mildew, and anthrac- 

 nose, or " bird's-eye rot." 



THE CEXTR.\L L.VKES DISTRICT 



Several important areas of vineyards are grouped about the central 

 lakes in western New York. While there are at least three distinct localities 

 in this district, namely, the areas about the three lakes, Keuka, Canandaigua, 

 and Seneca, yet the soils, climate, varieties and methods of caring for 

 vineyards and product are so nearly alike that all may be treated as one 

 district. The vineyards are in five counties, Ontario, Yates, Schuyler, 

 Steuben and Seneca. Tlie Keuka area, in Yates and Steuben Counties, is 

 bv far the largest; and the region is often called the Keuka grape district. 

 Vineyards surround Keuka Lake and all but the northern end of Canan- 

 daigua Lake, but only on the banks of the southern half of Seneca Lake 

 are grapes grown. The somewhat extensive vineyards about Naples, 

 south of Canandaigua Lake; Bath, south of Keuka Lake; and of Romulus 

 between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, belong in the Central Lakes district. 



The geology of the Central or Finger Lakes' has been studied by many 

 workers and the geological history of these remarkable bodies of water is 

 now w^ell known.' It is ver}- generally agreed that these lakes fill, in part, 

 preglacial valleys and that the valleys were transformed into lakes by 

 glacial action. The basins of the lakes may have been and probably were 



black-rot. After devouring the soft parts of one grape the caterpillar goes to another, fastening the 

 two together by a silken thread. This may be continued until several in a bunch have been destroyed 

 by one caterpillar. The young caterpillars are very light green in color with a brown head. When 

 full grown they measure about one-fourth of an inch in length and are dark olive green in color tinged 

 slightly with red. The cocoon is formed on a leaf and is partially composed of two small pieces cut 

 out of the leaf. The adults of the spring brood emerge in from twelve to fourteen days. The fore- 

 wings have a bluish tinge and are marked with brown, while the posterior wings are dull brown. 

 The moths are small measuring nearly half an inch from tip to tip when the wings are spread. 

 The eggs are probably laid late in June or early in July. There are two broods annually in this 

 State. As the caterpillars spend most of their lives within the grape berries, spraying does not 

 entirely control the pest. Yet the arsenicals applied for the grape-vine fidia will help much in keep- 

 ing it in check. Picking and destroying the infested fruit and the leaves containing the cocoons 

 helps much. 



' For a full account of the geology of these lakes and the valleys in which they lie, see the Physical 

 Geography of Xew York Stale by Ralph S. Tarr. New York. 1902. 



6 



