30 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



halt and maimed vines, remnants of once flourishing vineyards, 

 brought to their miserable condition by some scourge of insects 

 or fungi. The advent of spraying and of better knowledge of 

 the habits of the pests has greatly lessened the importance of 

 parasites as a factor in determining the value of a region for 

 grape-growing ; but even in the light of the new knowledge, it 

 is not wise to go against Nature in regions where pests are 

 strongly intrenched. 



Commercial factors 



The dominant factors that lead to the planting of large areas 

 to any one fruit are often economic ones ; as transportation, 

 markets, labor, facilities for making by-products, and oppor- 

 tunity to join in buying and selling organizations. All of 

 these factors play an important part in determining the bounds 

 of grape regions, but a lesser part than in the establishment 

 of large areas of other fruits, for the reason that the grape is 

 so largely grown for raisins, wine, champagne and grape-juice, 

 products condensed in form, made with little labor, easily trans- 

 ported, which keep long and find ready market at any time. 

 Again, where natural conditions are favorable for grape-growing, 

 the crop comes almost as a gift from Nature ; whereas, if the 

 grower must breast the blows of unfavorable natural circum- 

 stances, no matter how favorable the economic factors may be, 

 the vineyard is seldom profitable. Natural factors, therefore, 

 outweigh economic ones in grape-growing, but the latter must 

 be considered in seeking a site for a vineyard, a task discussed 

 under several heads to follow. 



Accessibility to markets. 



Markets ought to be accessible in commercial grape-growing. 

 A location in which there is a good local market, and at the 

 same time ample facilities for shipping to distant markets, is 



