28 Peach-Growing 



range which in North America extends from southern Canada 

 in the region of the Great Lakes and in British Columbia, on 

 the north, to Florida, southern Texas and even into the higher 

 elevations in Mexico, on the south, and from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific oceans. However, within these geographical 

 boundaries there are many limitations and restrictions that 

 rather definitely fix the local distribution. The most potent 

 limiting factor is climate, of which temperature is the most 

 important element. The cold of winter limits extension 

 northward, while the heat of the subtropical sections limits 

 the extension southward, and in parts of the western Great 

 Plains area the limiting factor is a combination of moderately 

 low winter temperatures, a scanty moisture supply, and 

 sometimes desiccating winds. 



Locations with reference to climatic conditions. 



The one leading question habitually asked by the prospec- 

 tive but inexperienced peach-grower, when considering a loca- 

 tion, is whether the soil is adapted to peaches. This is asked 

 in the belief that if only the soil is suitable, the fitness of a 

 location for the purpose is settled. The soil is important 

 with regard to the site, but not fundamentally so with regard 

 to location. The climate is the primary factor, so far as 

 growing the fruit is concerned. 



The general facts have been stated. Further amplifica- 

 tion will serve to call attention to other important considera- 

 tions that are more or less local in their application. 



Unfavorable temperature conditions are represented by 

 different extremes. A region in which the winter minimum 

 is 20° below zero is too cold for peaches when the object 

 of the planting is financial gain. The fruit-buds would be 

 killed too often for an orchard so located to be profitable. 



