8 ENOLOGICAL STUDIES. 



European species produced in America, from the distinctly European 

 varieties grown so largely in California. 



It is claimed by some that the grapes of New York State and the 

 Atlantic seaboard States are richer in sugar and not so acid as the 

 fruit grown in the Lake Erie district. Because of the proximity to 

 a very large grape-growing industry and of the important wine 

 industry located there the work has thus far been carried on chiefly al 

 Sandusky, Ohio, but it is intended to extend it as rapidly as possible 

 to other important centers. A large portion of the northern grape 

 belt has already been covered in this preliminary investigation, anc 

 the importance of the crop and its by-products and the necessity for 

 accurate information seem to fully justify this course. But the data 

 now in hand will render possible more detailed investigations of cer- 

 tain specific features as, for instance, the variability in composition 

 of the more important varieties under differing conditions of soil, 

 climate, and culture which appear to promise results of much prac- 

 tical importance. 



GRAPES GROWN IN OHIO AND NEW YORK. 



METHODS OF OBTAINING SAMPLES. 



In an investigation of this nature the character of the sample used 

 is of great importance. The data for the individual samples show 

 that the difference in composition between samples from the same 

 source may be sufficient to be confusing. Hence, with a view to 

 forestalling hasty conclusions, a very large number of samples, from 

 as many sources as possible, have been examined. This should ren- 

 der the averages presented quite reliable. There will certainly be a 

 very considerable variation in composition from year to year, the 

 extent of which can only be determined by continuing these examina- 

 tions until sufficient data have been secured to furnish a basis for a 

 final statement. 



The season was so far advanced when this work was begun in 1908 

 that arrangements could not be made to secure samples from a large 

 number of individual growers; hence they were taken at the wine 

 cellars. But for the years 1909 and 1910 a large number of samples 

 were secured directly from the growers, and to check against the 

 results so obtained samples were taken from the wine cellars. In 

 getting samples from growers the selection of " extra quality" has 

 been prevented as far as possible, the aim being to use the average 

 commercial fruit. In any case the large number of samples exam- 

 ined from the various sources minimizes the incidental variations so 

 as to warrant a reasonable belief that the averages herein presented 

 represent the quality of the fruit for the season in question. 



