New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. BOL 
light rainfall during the growing season with the maximum 
in July. The temperature in the grape district is high in the 
summer owing to the southern winds and physical features of 
the country, and low in winter. The high summer tempera- 
ture and relatively light rainfall in the growing season are 
very favorable to grape growing. 
In the early attempts of grape growing in the Hudson Valley 
the European methods of training were often used. Experi- 
ence with native varieties soon showed that vines should be 
trained so that a larger surface should be exposed to sunshine. 
Different methods of pruning in the District soon arose but 
the one which soon came into general use originated in Ulster 
County with William Kniffin and still bears his name. This 
method of training is sometimes called the drooping system as 
contrasted with the upright systems of the two former dis- 
tricts. The trunk extends to the top wire; the canes are tied 
horizontally to both wires on either side of the trunk, and the 
bearing shoots allowed to droop downward. The growers be- 
lieve this system to be well adapted to the strong-growing 
varieties. 
There is little uniformity in the packages used in this dis- 
trict owing to the diversity in nearby market demands. It 
is Surpassed by none in its shipping facilities and markets. 
The fungus diseases are more destructive than the insect pests ; 
black-rot being especially troublesome in some sections. Spray- 
ing has not been generally practiced, and the decrease in acre- 
age during the past decade has been increased by fungus 
diseases. 
THE NIAGARA DISTRICT. 3 
The Niagara district is the smallest and of the most recent 
development of any of the grape districts of New York. It 
borders the Niagara River in Erie and Niagara counties, and 
the southern shore of Lake Ontario in Niagara, Orleans, 
Monroe and Wayne counties. 
Up to 1886 when the Niagara grape was introduced into this 
district, there were but few vineyards along the Ontario Shore. 
During the few years following, heavy plantings of this variety 
