28o Bulletin 262. 



Cooperation by the Bureau of Soils. At the inception of the orchard 

 examination, the desirability of adding to its completeness by securing 

 a survey of soil conditions was immediately recognized. The matter was 

 presented to the Chief of the Bureau of Soils through whose kind coop- 

 eration a soil survey was authorized and completed in the summer of 

 1906 under the immediate direction of Professor E. O. Pippin. The 

 full text of this examination is set forth in the eighth Report of the 

 Field Operations of the Bureau of Soils, 1906, pages 69 to 117. Copies 

 of the bound volumes of the soil survey are on sale by the Superintend- 

 ent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 

 Separate copies of soil surveys may be secured by applying to the Bureau 

 of Soils, except when the supply is exhausted. 



HISTORICAL NOTES 



In 1779, a large tract of country in the western part of New York 

 was set ofif and styled Ontario. This embraced the entire region lying 

 between the two lakes, including Steuben, Ontario, Yates, Allegany, 

 Cattaraugus, Livijigston. Chautauqua, Erie, Orleans, Wyoming, Gene- 

 see, Wayne, Monroe and Niagara Counties. The subdivisions which 

 erected these counties were made between 1779 and 1854, Niagara 

 being separated from the group in 1808. At this time, Buffalo was 

 little more than a village, Niagara County mostly in timber, and the 

 old Ridge Road unopened. 



Fruit-growing has been associated with the progress of this county 

 from its earliest settlement. It is recorded that Indian orchards existed 

 here in the regions occupied by the Senecas and the Oneidas. The 

 Sullivan expedition against the warlike tribes in western New York in 

 1779, caused the destruction of thousands of fruit trees. Miss Stites, the 

 author of the " Economics of the Iroquois," says : 



" The apple is the Iroqouis banana. From the earliest introduction 

 of this fruit into New York and into New France from the genial plains 

 of Holland and Normandy, these tribes appear to have been captivated 

 by its taste and they lost no time in transferring it, by sowing the seed, 

 to the sites of their ancient castles. No one can read the accounts of 

 the destruction of their extensive orchards of the apple, which were 

 cut down on General Sullivan's inroad into the Genesee country in 

 1779, without regretting that the purposes of war should require this 

 barbaric act. The Census (of Schoolcraft) will show that this taste 

 remains as strong in 1845 ^•'^ ^^ was sixty-six years ago. Upwards of 

 four thousand fruit trees were counted in the Senecas' territory alone 



