MARKETING EASTERN GRAPES. 31 



as they are to-day. But this speculative enterprise was ill consid- 

 ered, many vines were planted in heavy clay soils, and few survived 

 to come into bearing, as this variety is especially tender. Generally 

 grapes do not do well in this district at an altitude beyond 200 feet 

 above the lake level. 



The particular development around Keuka Lake, where Catawbas 

 are grown to greater perfection than anywhere else in the North, 

 and- in the Naples Valley, was toward wine production. The wine 

 industry was begun in this section in the sixties, and by 1915 there 

 were over 25 factories engaged in this process, Keuka Lake was the 

 center of the American champagne industry, and important wine 

 factories were in operation in Naples. 



ACREAGE AND VARIETIES. 



As in the other leading grape-producing sections, the acreage is on 

 the decrease and the reduction has been particularly marked in 

 Seneca County. The commercial acreage of the district is variously 

 and unofficially estimated at from 12,000 to 15,000 acres. No official 

 statistics as to the average production are available, but it is the 

 consensus among those in close touch with the industry that the 

 average yield per acre for the whole district was formerly about a 

 ton, the low figure being due to the many uncared-for vineyards and 

 the numerous varieties of low productivity. 



The Central Lake district is notable for the lack of standardization 

 upon a leading variety, nearly all the well-known varieties being 

 grown in commercial quantities. No official data are available as to 

 the relative acreage of the different varieties, but it is roughly esti- 

 mated by leading factors that the Concord comprises 60 per cent of 

 the acreage, the Catawba 20 per cent, Delaware 8 per cent, Niagara 

 7 per cent, and others, such as the Elvira, Worclen, Moore, Ives, Dia- 

 mond, Agawam, and the Brighton the remaining 5 per cent. 



There is probably no commercial district where insect pests cause 

 so little damage as around the Central Lakes of New York, but 

 fungus diseases are troublesome ; black rot, downy mildew, powdery 

 mildew, anthracnose, and chlorosis often attack the fruit and vines. 

 These fungus diseases necessitate repeated sprayings, and in recent 

 years they have seemed to be under better control. On account of 

 the frequent and extensive damage to the bunches, many of the best 

 vineyarclists use packing houses, but much stock, especially in the 

 outlying sections, is picked directly into shipping baskets. A fairly 

 good pack is usually shipped, particularly from the Penn Yan sec- 

 tion, where there is one factor whose shipments command a consid- 

 erable premium. 



