FROSTS IN NEW YORK 



WiLFORD M. Wilson 



Local topography, particularly with reference to elevation, slope, and 

 proximity to large bodies of water, exerts so marked an influence on the 

 climate of a place that in such a State as New York, with its mountains, 

 valleys, lakes, and plateaus, any generalizations of climatic conditions 

 that woiild be of value to the practical farmer become extremely difficult, 

 if not impossible. In some respect nearly every locality enjoys a climate 

 of its own. This is true with regard to frosts in particular, for local 

 topography undoubtedly influences the occurrence of frost to a greater 

 degree than it does any other climatic element. The average temperature 

 or rainfall of a place may be approximated very closely from the average 

 temperature or rainfall of places some distance away; but where there is 

 an appreciable variation in the topography, the frost records of one place 

 cannot be regarded as an absolute guide for the frost conditions of another, 

 although the distance between the places may be only a few miles. Every 

 farmer has learned by experience that frost liability varies for even so 

 small an area as his own fann. For this reason, it has been considered 

 advisable to present the frost records for New , York in much greater 

 detail than has been attempted heretofore. 



Records of frost for several places in nearly every county are given 

 in the tables at the end of the bulletin. If accepted with due 

 regard to local topography (the effect of which will be pointed 

 out in some detail further on) and in the light of practical experience, 

 these records should enable the farmer to approximate very closely 

 the frost Hability of his own locality. No means has yet been 

 devised that can be employed economically by the general farmer 

 to protect large areas from frost; nevertheless, the sort of knowledge 

 derived from the records has a distinct value, which lies in the fact that 

 it makes possible the adjustment of the crop scheme to accord with the 

 requirements of the climate. The frost liability of a place cannot be 

 changed, because it is based on climate and climate does not change; but 

 with a knowledge of the climate in respect to frost, varieties smtable to 

 the locality may be selected and the time of planting and harvesting so 

 regulated as to avoid risk of injury by frost, or at least to reduce the 

 necessary risk to a minimum. 



MEANING OF THE TERM FROST 



Frost is defined commonly as the moisture of the air condensed at 

 freezing temperatures on plants or other objects near the surface of the 



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