6 BULLETIN 861, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
THE NIAGARA. 
The Niagara is the leading white variety, but does not find much 
favor outside of New York State, where it is a leader in the Lake 
Ontario district, a relatively unimportant section. It has never 
attained great commercial popularity, because its quality is not 
high, and because of the difficulties surrounding its culture. This 
variety is very weak in the root, is subject to insect attack and sub- 
sequent winter injury, does not mature its wood well, and is often 
badly affected by fungus diseases. 
In appearance the Niagara is a very showy grape, with large, well- 
formed bunches. The skin does not crack easily, but the berries 
shell badly from the stem. It has to a marked degree the " foxy " 
taste so characteristic of the labrusca species, and for that reason 
finds high favor with a small part of the consuming public. This 
results in an active demand for small quantities of this variety, with 
usual price premiums over blue varieties, but if Niagaras appeared 
in the market in as large quantities as Concords, it is probable that 
the special demand would be oversupplied and the price decline 
lower than that held by standard blue grapes. 
THE CATAWBA. 
The Catawba is a red variety of high quality and attractiveness, and 
is probably the best keeper of the commercial grapes. It is widely dis- 
tributed, being a leading grape in Ohio, New York, and the South- 
east. The late ripening of this variety, with its susceptibility to 
early frosts, prevents its wider dissemination. In only two sections 
of the North are Catawbas planted extensively — the Erie shore of 
Ohio and the Central Lake district of New York. The variety is 
at its best in the latter section, particularly on the banks of Lake 
Keuka, on land extending back to an altitude of 100 feet above the 
surface of the lake. It is a very attractive grape, the bunches being 
large, even, and compact. Its quality is high, though often impaired 
by premature picking. In the past it has been largely used for wine, 
as it makes a good, light-colored vintage, which was often used as 
a basis for champagne. As a matter of fact, the American cham- 
pagne industry was largely built upon this variety. Prohibition leg- 
islation released large quantities of Catawba stock hitherto used by 
wineries, but it is coming into favor for the manufacture of white 
grape juice, and much larger amounts than formerly will probably 
be consumed for this purpose. 
As the Catawba is in only fair demand for table stock in most 
markets, and as the juice factories do not seem to be able to use all 
the stock formerly used for wine, this variety will probably appear 
