USA > New York > Yates County > History of Yates County, N.Y. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 23
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The Isabella was planted almost exclusively at first ; it was brought from the South in the early part of the century, where it had been the standard variety for many years. The newer and more desirable varie- ties were seldom found outside of the grounds of the originators. It was yet to be demonstrated by trial whether any other varieties could be planted to advantage.
It is not the design to give in detail the names of the planters and dates of planting; only a few of the earliest will be mentioned, and these for the purpose of showing the sterling points and gradual increase of the industry. The earliest planting of a vineyard in Yates County seems to have been made by W. W. Shirland on a piece of land situ- ated in the town of Benton almost at a point where the towns of Ben. ton, Torrey, and Milo meet. It was set to Isabellas in the early part of November in the year 1855. It has since been replaced by Concords. Mr. Shirland began changing to Concords in 1866. The vineyard is one of the best and most productive of the many in the county. One of the pioneers in the business was John Mead in Benton near the Torrey line, who planted his first vineyard in 1861. It contained three acres ; at that time it was counted a large one; it comprised half an acre of Isabellas, a large proportion of the balance being Concords; some Catawbas were planted; later the Isabellas were taken out and Con- cords substituted. The Catawbas were so uncertain in ripening that they were abandoned. The Concords are still in full vigor. There is
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no record of Concords being planted previously. The original vineyard, together with additions thereto made at later dates, is now owned by Joshua Mead. One of the earliest if not the earliest planter of Dela- wares was Henry Rose, who set in 1861 three acres in the town of Benton, though included in the corporate limits of Penn Yan. This vineyard is still in good bearing, the original vines bearing good crops annually. It has since been enlarged.
Joseph F. Crosby, in Barrington, began planting in 1864; in that year he planted six acres, comprising one of Delawares, one of Dianas, one and one-half of Catawbas, and two and one half of Isabellas. The Dela- ware, Catawba, and Diana were just coming into prominence. Mr. Crosby was freely criticised by his neighbors for planting so largely, but facts show his judgment to have been good, as can be undoubtedly proved by an examination of his vineyards lying just north of Cros- by's Landing. He planted freely in 1866. There were at this date several vineyards on the lake shore in the towns of Barrington and Milo of the Isabella variety. The Catawba had yet to be tested ; they were proving of value in Pleasant Valley, at or near Hammonds- port, and in Pultney on the west side of the lake; in consequence thereof those who intended planting began adding Catawbas to the list of desir- able varieties. The price of roots was high; some parties used cut- tings put in the vineyard the same as though already rooted ; in some instances this proved successful, while in others a perfect failure-the practice never gained a firm footing and was soon abandoned. On Bluff Point in the town of Jerusalem planting began as early as 1862. William F. Van Tuyl, on the east side of the Point, purchased in the spring of 1862 of William Coons forty Catawba roots at the very rea - sonable price for the time, six cents each, and of Samuel Wagener 1,200 Catawba cuttings at $5 per thousand. In 1864 he bought of Judge Lar- rowe, of Hammondsport, 4,000 cuttings at $3 per thousand, of which he says : "The majority of these cuttings were planted or set in the vineyard where they were intended to grow, the result being that about one-half of them grew and made strong roots so that we were enabled to fill out the ground as we put two cuttings in each hill." Isabellas also formed a part of this vineyard. The first sales are reported as follows: Isabellas taken to PennYan in a dry goods box and sold at nine cents per pound
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September 15, 1865 ; September 17th Catawbas sold to Judge Larrowe at Hammondsport at twelve and a half cents per pound, he to furnish the boxes in which they were marketed. Abram Van Tuyl planted at the same time and manner as William. These vineyards are yet in full vigor.
Franklin Culver as early as 1861 planted on the east side of the Point near Kinney's Corners an acre or two of Isabellas, which have since been removed and their places filled by more desirable varieties. Plant- ing had begun on Seneca Lake; occasionally a man who had as he thought a choice location had planted small vineyards. Anson Dunlap on the shore of the lake near Starkey Station had planted as early as 1862, as he sold a quantity of grapes at Hammondsport in 1866.
On lands now owned by the Seneca Lake Grape and Wine Company there was a vineyard of about three acres, part Catawbas and part Isa- bellas, planted by James Valentine about 1862. A stock company called the Seneca Lake Wine Company bought a large tract of land, in- cluding the above, and in 1867 extended the planting to more than 125 acres, which up to a late date was probably the largest vineyard in the State of New York. The varieties included Ionas, Catawbas, Champions, Hartfords, Prolifics, Concords, Delawares, and others. A large stone building was erected in 1870 for the manufacture of wines. The busi- ness had already been started in another building now used for a barn. Vine Valley in the town of Middlesex, on the shores of Canandaigua Lake, is peculiarly adapted to the growth of the Delaware, ripening it to perfection ten days in advance of other. locations.
But few grapes were planted previous to 1865 and only in small vine- yards. The results warranted larger, until the valley is literally filled with good productive vineyards covering hundreds of acres. Between the years 1865 and 1870 planting was done at a rapid rate ; lands that had previously been counted of little value, in close proximity to the shores of the lakes, some of it steep and covered with a dense growth of young timber, being counted the best for grapes. Before worth perhaps twenty or twenty-five dollars per acre it rapidly advanced in price, $250 and more being paid, many large proprietors selling in lots of five and ten acres for vineyard purposes. Grapes had been selling at good paying prices. It was held that no fertilizers would be needed. The prospect was good for a money-making business. Vineyards instead of being
31
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
small as heretofore were much more extensive. The vineyard owned by H. P. Sturtevant & Co., at the end of Bluff Point, one of the finest in the county, was commenced in 1865. The Pratt & Jillett vineyard, now owned by Harvey Pratt, was commenced in 1864. The McDowell vine- yard and many others were commenced within a year or two succeed - ing. McDowell paid for Iona vines $800, Delawares $250, Con- cords $80, and Catawbas $100 per thousand. They were planted 6 x 6, 8 x 3, or 10 x IO as the judgment or fancy of the planter dictated. Wire for trellises cost eleven to twelve cents per pound, No. 12 being the size most used. Most of the cultivation was done by hand. These prices and methods applied very generally throughout the county.
Eli R. Stever planted on Bluff Point the first Iona vineyard of any amount in 1867. That year he planted twenty-five acres. It was known to be a grape of the best quality, either for the table or wine. He contracted to pay $370 per thousand for the roots and give the wood for six years. They came from Dr. Grant, of Iona Island, N. Y. They were propagated under glass. The year following twenty- five acres more were planted to Ionas ; these were bought of William Grif- fith, of North East, Pa. They were grown in the open air, costing $120, with the fruit for the first year, per thousand. Before planting the land was thoroughly underdrained, time and money being spent without limit to have all done that could be in the way of perfect preparation to make it a success, but they were finally abandoned, being of no value. In 1868 Mr. Stever planted fifteen acres of Delawares; these are still in good bearing. In the fall of 1865 and spring of 1866 twenty- five acres of the "Gulick Brown " vineyard at Kinney's Corners were planted, consisting of Delawares, Concords, Catawbas, Isabellas, and Dianas, Concord roots costing $80 and sometimes $100 per thousand. J. Warren Brown in 1867 planted 100 Delaware vines, and a much larger number of Isabellas. The Delaware roots were called first-class, but were so small that the whole 100 were taken to the place of planting in a pan. The Delawares planted at that time are still in prime order and have given good crops annually; the Isabellas have been grafted.
Planting went on rapidly until in 1872 over 400 acres were planted in the town of Jerusalem alone. In Vine Valley there were about 140 acres, while J. T. Henderson, C. N. Wixom, the Seneca Lake Wine and
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THE VINEYARDS.
Grape Company, together with many others, kept pace on the Seneca Lake. The prices had been good, the vineyards generally successful, until about 1870, when a surplus of fruit caused grapes to sell for an average of three cents per pound. It looked as though enough grapes had been planted to supply all demands for a long time to come. Many who had contemplated planting gave it up ; lands decreased in price al- most as fast as they had advanced five years before. From 1871 to 1876 the acreage of vine's was not extended in any great amount, yet prices were gradually working up again and the prospect generally seemed to warrant more grapes. The demand for both table and wine was increasing. Beginning about 1876 to plant again the acreage has been extended until it is estimated about 7,000 acres are in bearing, with an average yield of above 10,000 tons annually.
In 1881 George C. Snow, on the Esperanza Vineyards located on the west branch of Lake Keuka, planted the first Niagaras. The package used for shipping at first was a box made of wood, holding ten pounds placed in crates holding six boxes. These gave place to boxes hold- ing five pounds, with eight boxes in a crate, and these were superceded by a box containing three pounds with twelve in a crate. These were first made by the Messrs. Prentiss at Pultney and Fairchild at Ham- mondsport. In 1866 Messrs. Hopkins Brothers, at their factory in Penn Yan, began making boxes. This was the first factory in Yates County. They sold five-pound boxes in crates at $80 and the three-pound boxes in crates at $65 per thousand.
James W. Stever, of Branchport, and George W. Fenton, on the east side of Lake Keuka, soon after began manufacturing. Baskets began to be used in any amount in 1877. They rapidly superceded the box. Baskets containing ten pounds were used until about 1882, when the present " pony " or five-pound basket took precedence. There are now eight basket factories in operation, with an annual output of 3,000,000. Shipping began exclusively by express, the rate being $1.65 per 100 pounds to New York city and the same to all the large cities on the seaboard. They began to be shipped by freight by Charles Hunter & Co. in 1868 at sixty- five cents per 100 pounds in car lots, the rate be- ing the same to New York, Philadelphia, or Baltimore. About ten years later the Northern Central Railroad attempted to carry grapes by
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
freight in small lots. It was far from satisfactory ; the time spent in transit was too long and quite uncertain, the roads not having facilities for handling such perishable freight. The care they received was too rough, the result being they were not put into market in good order.
In 1880 J. P. Barnes established the Barnes Fruit Line, running cars for fruit alone from Hammondsport to New York via Bath and Ham- mondsport and Erie Railroads. The grapes were loaded at Hammonds- port and unloaded without breaking bulk in New York in very good time. This gave a good outlet to the Yates County growers via boat to Hammondsport, and was a success. In 1884 Mr. Barnes organized his Boston line from Blood's station on the Erie road to Boston, giving this county the opportunity to take advantage of the Boston line at Bath. In 1884 Mr. Barnes also started his fruit line via the Northern Central Railroad, starting his cars at Canandaigua and getting his grapes between that point and Watkins. At this place the cars were closed and forwarded rapidly to their destination. Within a year or two succeeding the Northern Central Road assumed control of its fruit business and is giving excellent service. This company, the Hollowell & Wise Fast Fruit Line over the Fall Brook Railroad and the Barnes line from Hammondsport over the Erie road, are transport- ing nearly the whole output by freight both east and west.
The organization of the Pleasant Valley Wine Company, near Ham- mondsport, opened up a large market for grapes. This company was organized in 1860. The Urbana Wine Company was organized in 1865, followed by others until there are nine wine companies on Lake Keuka alone. These use in the aggregate several thousand tons of grapes annually, drawing quite a percentage of their supply from Yates County.
The method of pruning continues practically the same as first adopted. It is the thorough renewal system ; occasionally some other method has been attempted, but not to any extent. Grafting has been done quite extensively. Many of the early planted Isabellas have been changed by this process into more desirable varieties. The method pursued is the cleft graft and is the quickest way to change varieties that is known.
In 1886 John H. Butler, a practical and extensive vineyardist, started
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in Penn Yan the Vineyardist, a journal devoted to grape culture and kindred interests. It is a horticultural paper, but a large part of its space is given over to discussing the intricacies of grape growing. Its columns have been open at all times to correspondents. It has been invaluable to growers as a medium through which errors could be cor- rected, new ideas relating to the business set forth, reporting on new varieties, etc. It has been well sustained.
Some diseases have made their appearance. The downy mildew has been by far the most destructive, sometimes defoliating vineyards as well as causing much rotting of the fruit. The foliage of the Dela- ware is very susceptible, but the fruit is almost free. Both fruit and foliage of the Catawba is subject to its ravages. Powdery mildew has not been of frequent occurrence. It sometimes attacks the Concord, doing much damage, but is usually not widespread. Black rot is of recent date. In 1889 Colonel Pearson, of the Department of Agricult- ure, made a careful examination of the vines in this section and found occasionally an infected berry. Careful search for a whole day resulted in finding a handful of infected berries among the Catawbas and occa- sionally a spotted leaf. It is a dangerous and contagious fungus dis- ease, more persistent and destructive in warm, wet seasons. It is supposed when once fastened on a section or vineyard it will bealmostimpossible to stop it if the conditions are right forits dissemination. Some of the older growers say it has been long known under the local name of the "ap- ple rot," some seasons causing heavy losses. This as well as other fungus diseases can be controlled by any of the salts of copper applied in the form of a very weak solution in water in the shape of a fine spray. Machines are made for the purpose, John H. Butler, Horace F. Mills, and G. C. Snow being the first to apply the fungicide by horse- power in 1890.
Anthracnose is found, but seldom and very light; further than these the vines are free from disease. Among insects the phylloxera has done much damage. They infest the roots of nearly every vine. It has no doubt caused the almost total failure of the Iona. Most varieties are not damaged to any great extent.
Sometimes the Delaware, Catawba, and Clinton foliage is attacked by the thrips ; if bad they cause much damage. No method has been de-
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
vised whereby they can be killed. Within a year or two the steel blue beetle has made its appearance in sufficient numbers to cause a perceptible loss. No effort has as yet been made to check its ravages except by catching them by hand.
Some important changes have taken place. The early vineyards were trellised with wooden slats nailed to stakes. Wire costing eleven and a half cents per pound, fastened to the stakes with wrought nails next came in vogue, and the wrought nails were succeeded by small staples made expressly for the purpose. Wire now is used cost. ing about $50 per ton. From all sorts and kinds of packages which have been tried the five and ten-pound baskets have taken precedence over all others. Transportation of grapes has become a well defined business. Improvements have been made where experience showed the need. The handling of the enormous amount of grapes between the vineyards where they are grown and the purchaser has been so sys- tematized that seldom a basket is lost or damaged, and at rates about one- half below those charged twenty-five years ago. Where two tons broke the New York market in 1852 today thousands of tons are con- sumed, with the same increase in proportion in all the markets. The Isabella at first was supposed to be the only variety which could be grown here ; it has now been almost entirely superceded by other and vastly better varieties. From plantings of an acre or two in widely separated localities we now find an aggregate acreage estimated at 7,000, yielding the last three years an annual average of 10,000 tons.
CHAPTER XVII.
AGRICULTURE IN YATES COUNTY.1
T HIS county was formed from Ontario on February 5, 1823. Bar- rington and Starkey were added April 5, 1824. The surface of the earth in this county is undulating, and is divided by five great ridges extending in a northerly direction, which gradually descend from a
1 By James Miller, of Jerusalem.
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AGRICULTURE.
height of from 600 to 1,800 feet above Seneca Lake to a gentle un- dulating region in the towns of Torrey, Benton, Potter, and Middlesex. The soil varies from a tenacious clay to a gravelly loam, but the greater portion is a medium and contains clay intermixed with gravel and loam, and is well adapted to grazing or tillage. It contains an abund- ance of lime for agricultural purposes, and of potash, also, except on the highest ridges.
The Tully limestone crops out on the Keuka outlet and, as it is said to contain two per cent. of phosphoric acid, might be utilized for agri- cultural purposes, as that is the most deficient element of plant food in the soil. There are also numerous deposits of muck which might be utilized to improve the uplands. The county has great natural ad- vantages for agriculture, horticulture, and vinticulture. Much of the soil is of superior fertility. The climate, too, is tempered by the great lakes north and west of the State and the smaller interior ones, the borders of which are well adapted to fruit and especially to grape and peach growing. The former are of superior quality and their pro- duction has increased from small to vast proportions. At the time of the formation of the county only a small portion of the original forest had been removed. Most of it was settled, but only small clearings had been made. Nearly all of the settlers then lived in log houses. Pot and pearl ashes and wheat were mainly depended upon for sale, and only a small amount of the latter was produced and that sold for but fifty cents per bushel. So the incomes of farmers were small, but as only a few implements were used to cultivate the soil and secure crops, and as garments were manufactured and made at home, it supplied other wants. Wages were low. Farm hands labored for from $6 to $8 per month. Girls worked for from four shillings to six shillings per week.
A protective tariff was enacted in 1824, which encouraged manu- facturing and diversified labor. Proportionately, too, many people had been engaged in agriculture. After the tariff act the price of agricult- ural products improved and wages advanced. A "woolen bill " was enacted in 1828, which rendered the duty of woolen goods more specific, and the production of wool thereafter became profitable and a great source of wealth. The value of farm lands rapidly advanced, and also all farm products and domestic animals. Labor also advanced and an
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HISTORY OF YATES COUNTY.
era of great prosperity followed. Competition reduced the price of all manufactured goods so that they could not be profitably made at home, and household manufacture gradually declined and the spinning - wheels and other appurtenances were consigned to the garret. Log huts were abandoned for commodious houses and stately mansions. But this era of prosperity was checked by the gradual reduction of the tariff from 1833 to 1842, when it was at minimum rate. A financial crisis had oc- curred in 1837 and prices of all farm products and domestic animals had declined. Good cows sold for $10 and all other animals in like pro- portion. Wages of farm hands had declined from $15 and $18 per month to $10 and $12.
A protective tariff was again enacted in 1842, which once more re- vived prices of farm products. This was changed to a revenue tariff in 1846, but the Irish famine of 1846, the Mexican war, the discovery of gold, and the Crimean war maintained strong prices until 1857. After the close of the latter war another period of depression occurred and continued until 1861. After the commencement of our Civil war, and after the enactment of the protective tariff of 1861, another era of pros- perity prevailed, which was checked only by the financial panic of 1873. Prices again improved in 1878, but were depressed in 1885 by over production from the vast amount of fertile soil brought under cultiva- tion in the West, but as that has now been mainly occupied, and as the demand has equalled the supply, agriculture has an apparently bright future if farmers will become educated and avail themselves of every advantage and pursue mixed husbandry.
Wheat and wool with some barley were mainly depended upon in this county down to 1852, when the railroad from Watkins to Canandaigua was completed (now a branch of the Northern Central), which furnished transportation for fruit and perishable products. Since that time the products have been more diversified. Less wheat and wool have been produced and more of other cereals, especially barley. Fruit and grape growing has become a leading industry in many localities. The pro- duction of potatoes, hay, poultry, and eggs have greatly increased. The value of poultry sold in 1854 was $12,494; of eggs, $9,010. In 1864 the value of poultry sold was $21,460; of eggs, $13,511. In 1874 the value of poultry sold was $33,179; of eggs, $32,876.
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The number of bushels of potatoes produced in 1854 was 57,912; in 1864, 126,813 ; in 1874, 194,246. The value of grapes produced in 1854 was $57 ; in 1864, $77,000 ; in 1874, 2,784,439 pounds. As the census was not taken in 1885 we cannot state the increase, but up to the present grapes must have increased threefold; also small fruit, more especially raspberries. All other varieties of fruit have also greatly in- creased in production.
It would be difficult to find an area of equal extent with Yates County having a more fertile soil or with as great natural advantages. Hundreds of men have commenced with small means, or none at all, and became wealthy or secured a competency ; and for the benefit of young men we will name one of them, John Merrifield. He was visited in November, 1891, and found at work on his farm, although he is in his eighty- third year. He commenced to work for $6 per month and increased from year to year until he received $10 per month. He saved his wages until he could work land upon shares, and soon was able to purchase a farm, and at one time owned three good farms. He has been industrious, frugal, and temperate. There are just as good opportunities for young men to succeed in the future as there have been in the past. Land can be purchased for less than the improvements have cost, and with im- proved husbandry would be more profitable than more sought occu- pations.
Notwithstanding the fact that the products of the county are im- mense they could be doubled before the end of the present century, which would be more than double the value of the soil and quadruple the profits. This cannot be accomplished without some radical changes. Waste places must be cultivated. The cultivation must be deeper to return to the surface the elements of plant food which have been leached from it. Farmers must be more thorough in subduing noxious weeds and thistles and wet soils must be under-drained. More manures and fertilizers should also be applied. Improved breeds of domestic animals ought to be substituted instead of the quality now kept. Improved modes of feeding should be adopted. To obtain the best results ani- mals should constantly have a full supply of nutritious food. Profit- able results have been greatly reduced many times during extreme droughts and by the exposure of cattle to inclement weather late in
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