The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-19
NEW Honk,s GREAT GRAPE REGION
Millions OF Dollars of Crops From Lands
Almost Abandoned n Few Years AGO.


Almost Abandoned n Few Years Ago.
Western Now York is developing into n great
grape raising country. Ten years AGO the
farmers woro emigratlng from Chnutauoua
county. The land along the lake shore could
not compete in wheat and corn with tho West
Tho farms wero not worth the mortgages on
them. Land could DO bought for twenty and
thirty dollars an aero. Now the samo land un.
improved is held at two hundred or three hun
dred dollars. and tho improved land is worth n
thousand dollars an acre with none wanting
to sell at that price. All this comes from tho
discovery that the southern shore OF Lake Erie
Is Just the place for grapes. Formerly Iake
Erie extended back inland somo miles. Whore
tho old shores OF the lake were Is now the
top of line Of low hills. From the top
OF those hills the land slopes in terraces from
two to three miles wide down to the lake
shore. There are three distinct terraces Tho
one along tho lake is but n few feet high; from
one and half to two miles back from tho lake
there is rise Of twenty to fifty feot. and the
highest terrace is over one hundred feet above
the surface Of the lake. These terraces are
now covered with vineyards. Every year there
are more vineyards, and the people OF the
county are growing rich.
The soil Is sand and gravel. 1t dries quickly
and retains the water few feet under ground.
SO that the top OF the soil Is almost always dry,
while at a few feet down water can be reached
The roots Of the vines 90 down through the
gravel and sand to this water. and aro always
moist, even in the dry season. The vines got
the sunshine, without the direct rays which
might dry them up. The hills shelter the
vines from any strong breezes and the lake
protects them from from being killed by the
early frosts. There Is lato spring, late
frosts. and fairly even temperature. with q
succession OF breezes from the surface OF the
lake. This makes tho grapes grow. Several
lines OF railroad run through the grape coun-
try and afford facilities for ready ship
mont. Most Of the grapes are sent
West. although some OF them come
East. They SIMPLY tho cities OF Erie,
Cleveland. Toledo. Sandusky, Detroit,
and Chicago, and go as far West as St. Paul.
MINNEAPOLIS, St. Louis, Omaha. and Cincin-
natl. Tho Grapes go West until they m oct tho
California crops. From the town OF Wcstlleld
over $4,000 worth OF grapes were, shipped
last season, From the next town OF Blockton
about SjOD.OOO worth of grapes were shipped
The population OF Mestne ID is only about 3OUO
H %Srh of tbs shpp ss iU
tAorc are other industries and other crops be-
sides the grape crop. this shows q general
thought that they would DO starved out, are
getting rich. and; instead 00f regretting that
W
and wheat crops; they are glad that 1t has
forced them to raise the profitable grapes
! he crops nre raised on low vines six, feet
tour and five teet high. They are not allowed
to grow larger. When vine gets to bearing
size It is PrInS me, ana Trimmed EYER
grapes. Tho new growth is Judiciously cut or
SO that the greatest number OF grapes will be
a crop OF from three to Ave tons per acre. Buy
ers are now Offering from 500 10 $50 II t0u for
standard grades OF grapes. That shows the
gross about 1925 to $3.50. All the work that there
is after the vineyard is started. is to keep the
ground clear OF weeds, to prune the vines and
to gather the grapes 1t is not hard TO Kill the
weeds, rs the shade OF the grape vines helps.
and as the vines are not 80 close together that
ing is done from time to Il ne. and does not
have to be attended to In few days or week.
to be done all at once as the crop does not
mature at the same time. That gives steady
employment to the farm laborcrs anddoee not
crops which have to be gathered at certain
times. and spoil II not gathered then.
1t takes three years usually to got vine
yard into good boaring Some grapes can be
grown the second year. but usually they are
not grown and the grapes are taken of IN
bearing vineyard. The first year the vineyard
Is set out gratis are planted. the ground is
neXt Year by that line the vines have Wee com me
mp. the poles and trellises are erected. and the
vines are trained along them. No grapes are
begins. From that time on the vineyard gives |
Is annual crop II 1t is properly attended to.
there are scores OF varieties. The common
varieties can be bought for IS or SO u thou
sand. though there are some varieties that
ments are made In the varieties. in order to
get the vines that will bear the most grapes,
about ten pounds each. The farmer buys The the
baskets, which cost about $50 thousand. He |
sells the grapes In the baskets: Any surplus
iemand FOR grapes has been SO good hereto |
ore that but few Of them have been used that |
made at Brockton. Some few experiments
lave been made.in champaRnes and sparkling !
vines. but not much Of them is made. Sc, long |
30 obtained for the grapes in baskets there Is |
little incentive to the raisers 70 go into wine:
Increase the, surplus, and would cause moro
to be given to the making of wine
So far only, part of the available land has
been planted. 1t has heen, found that the
highest terrace is not good for Vineyards, Us
he vines do not last there. Tho high land is
saton The second Is ho bss
hem all Here the unimproved land ia hold mt
rom 5000 to $500 an acre. and growing vine
he land would pay return of 10 per cent.
lear at the average prices for the last few
ears. The farmers are not afraid that the
Quantity OF land is available. and when the
Lrea OF cultivation Is extended the cost Is
:reaty increased: owing to the growing un-
ertainty about the crop, and the danger OF
laying the vines DESTROYED by frost.
lie liquor feeling OF the community. Most OF
he lake towns were formerly prohibition
owns-that Is, no licenses were allowed there.
nd any one who wanted liquor had to send to
,ufIao Erie, or Dunklrk Tor. it. Since large
rops Of grapes were raised and wine was
nade. the people voted for license. and there are
ow several licensed places In tho Grape.rais-
ne towns They are also opposed 10 restric-
ions on the liquor traffic and they favor low
cense lee for ales. wines and beer. From Do-
az strong prob bitionsts. they bave come 10
o in favor OF the regular use OF beverages
nth u low percentage OF alcohol.