84 THE GRAPES OF XEW YORK. 



this place in 1855 for their vine\'ards in Pleasant Valley. Who owned 

 these Avon vineyards, and what their extent was, does not appear. 



The first commercial shipment of any considerable amount beyond 

 the towns nearby was made in 1854 when Mr. J. W. Prentiss shipped a 

 ton of Isabella packed in tubs to New York City. The tubs were made 

 by cutting apple barrels in half and were packed half full when a thin 

 board partition was put in after which the tub was filled and covered. 

 The consignment reached the city in fair condition and brought fifteen 

 cents per pound but a second ton shipped in the same way " broke " the 

 market. 



John Mead of the town of Benton introduced the Concord in this region 

 in 1 86 1 and the same year Henry Rose of Penn Van set the first Delaware 

 to be planted commercially in the district. The Concord soon took the 

 place of the Isabella but could not displace the Catawba as it did in the 

 Chautauqua district. The Delaware grew in favor and rapidly assumed 

 third place in the list of varieties about the three lakes, a position which it 

 still maintains, though it is closely followed by the Niagara. 



By i860 grape-growing had become so general that the need of further 

 outlets for the fruit was felt and the Pleasant Valley Wine Company was 

 formed for the manufacture of wine and brandy. For several years fol- 

 lowing, this company used about one-third of the output of Pleasant Val- 

 ley, helping very materially to steady the market for the whole district. 

 A few years later another large company, the Urbana Wine Company, 

 was formed; and when still later it was discovered that the champagne 

 made about Keuka Lake was superior to that made in any other part of 

 America and that, with experience in making, it rivalled the champagne 

 in France, wine-making became an important adjunct to grape-growing 

 in this district. Now there are about twenty five companies making wine 

 and champagne on or near the shores of the three lakes, the industry hav- 

 ing its center on Keuka Lake. Wine-making is still in its infancy and 

 because of the demand it creates for grapes, and the high prices paid by the 

 wineries, will continue to exert a most favorable influence on the viti- 

 culture of the district. There is but little unfermented grape juice made 

 about the Central Lakes. 



A valuable asset of this district is its long range of season. Grapes 



