Eastern region 75,859 147,411
Middle region 64,793 58,917
Western region 39,084 14,784
Southern region 21,534 16,886
California region 280,869 362,323
All of the regions we have been discussing, in which native grapes are
grown, show a considerable falling off in production excepting the
eastern one where the increase more than counterbalances the decrease in
the other regions. The census report for 1900 shows three new states in
the list of those producing grapes in commercial quantities. In the
decade preceding, Michigan came up from an insignificant commercial
production in 1890 to fifth rank in 1900 with 20,765 tons. Iowa and
Oklahoma, states from which grapes were not reported in commercial
quantities in 1890, produced 3701 and 3055 tons in 1900.
The shifting of grape areas indicated in the above paragraph was caused
for most part by the grape diseases. The mildew and rot had ruined the
grape industry in some of the older regions. The newer regions, as in
Michigan, either enjoy comparative immunity from these troubles or the
vineyards had not yet been attacked by them. In the case of the eastern
region, New York and Pennsylvania, in the Chautauqua district, along the
shores of Lake Erie in both states, where the production increased
greatly during this decade, the vineyards are almost wholly immune to
black-rot and are comparatively free from the mildew. In the other grape
districts of this region these troubles are kept well in check by
spraying.
The statistics given in the last few paragraphs show how greatly the
grape-growing of eastern America has increased in the last half century.
When one considers that at the time Erskine made his survey in 1859
there were but 6100 acres of grapes in the whole of this great region
and that the culture of the European varieties was impossible, the total
acreage grown in 1900, namely, 237,998 acres, makes an astounding
figure. The results achieved seem all the greater when one considers
that many of the best varieties now grown are the first and scarcely any
are further removed than the second generation from wild plants. It is
doubtful if any other cultivated plants have attained such importance as
our native grapes in so short a time from the wild state. Yet their
domestication has scarcely begun and few who grow them realize their
possibilities.
THE WINE[86] AND GRAPE JUICE INDUSTRIES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account