496 ReEporRT OF THE HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT OF THE 
to five well defined terraces which rise above the lake bluff 
with a grade of from one to two hundred feet to the mile. The 
plain, the terraces, and the escarpment form the chief natural 
topographical features of the district. 
The soils, as mapped by the Bureau of Soils of the United 
States Department of Agriculture, are Dunkirk clay, Dunkirk 
gravel, Dunkirk gravelly loam, Dunkirk sandy loam and Dun- 
kirk shale loam. Back from the lake east and west from Bar- 
celona, in the region of Van Buren, and about Dunkirk, are 
found the largest areas of Dunkirk clay, which ranges from a 
few inches to a foot in depth, resting upon a stiffer and more 
tenacious clay. It was upon the Dunkirk gravel, which is 
found upon the terraces at the foot of the “ hill,’ that grapes 
were first grown. This soil is a week or more earlier than 
other soils and is largely planted to early varieties. The 
Dunkirk gravelly loam runs practically the whole length of 
the belt at the base or on top of the gravel ridges and 
is underlaid at a depth of about three feet with sand 
and shale fragments. This soil produces a growth similar 
to that on the gravels, though with some varieties it is claimed 
the berries are larger and with other the amount of wood is 
greater. The largest areas of Dunkirk sandy loams occur east 
and west of Dunkirk and Fredonia, bordering the lake in large 
irregular areas or extending back from the bluff to the escarp- 
ment. Other areas occur about Brocton and Portland and 
smaller ones east of Barcelona and northwest of Ripley. This 
soil is brownish yellow, is found on undulating land, ranges 
from six to twelve inches in depth, and produces good crops. 
The Dunkirk shale loams are found upon. the escarpment and 
are furthest from the lake. The soil is thin, brown in color, 
has considerable shale on the surface and is underlaid with 
heavy clay. Grapes from this soil are high in flavor, contain 
a good amount of sugar, mature early, and are much sought 
for in making wine. 
The climatic conditions of the Chautauqua district are 
especially favorable. The high escarpment running its whole 
