THE AMERICAN GRAPES. 237 



qualities rarely found in the vinifera varieties of the west 

 coast. 



In the North it may be said that any neighborhood 

 where dent, or even the eight-rowed flint, corn can be 

 ripened, will permit the ripening of some of our American 

 grapes. As yet commercial grape growing is confined to 

 the near vicinity of our lakes and the bluff soils of our 

 large rivers. East of Lake Erie, in New York, over 25,000 

 acres are now planted in what is known as the Chautauqua 

 belt. In this belt, and in Ohio, Concord, Worden, 

 Moore's Early, Niagara, and Catawba are mainly grown 

 and shipped in baskets over a large part of the Northern 

 States east of the Rocky Mountains. Other grape-growing 

 centres are south of Lake Erie, in Ohio, at Ontario, 

 Michigan, and on the Mississippi bluffs in Missouri. In 

 these centres the recent tendency has been in the direction 

 of growing improved varieties of better quality than Con- 

 cord. In the newer plantations on Lake Erie, and south, 

 Catawba, Moore's Early, Moore's Diamond, Brighton, 

 Worden, Cottage, and Niagara are now planted mingled 

 with the Roger hybrids. 



Dealers and consumers are now demanding varieties 

 comparing favorably in quality with Brighton, Isabella, 

 and Delaware. The wine interests on the Missouri bluffs 

 and in the Lake Erie region are also seeking for better 

 varieties for pressing. 



The newer plantings at this time are largely of such 

 varieties as Delaware, Norton's Virginia, and Cynthiana, 

 for wine-making and the bottling of the unfermented 

 juice. 



230. Distance Apart and Planting. It is not easy to 

 formulate rules in regard to distance apart of vines in 

 plantation. Those familiar with our native varieties know 

 that the Delaware with its relatively short growth will not 



