640 THE FKTIT IXDUSTKY IN XEW YOKK STATE 



HUDSON VALLEY 



This region lies on both sides of the Hudson from Long Island 

 to the valley of Lake George as far north as Warren and Wash- 

 ington counties. The varied topography and the several geological 

 formations giving different soils make it possible, and probably 

 desirable, to subdivide this district into several secondary regions 

 in which nearly all of the deciduous fruits and many of the 

 varieties are grown. In no part of the state is climate and soil, 

 and consequently its productions, more varied than in the Hudson 

 Valley district. 



Where the region touches the seashore, and for several miles 

 inland, fruits as grown on Long Island will thrive. In the north- 

 ern part of the region and in the high altitudes, the varieties grown 

 further north in the Champlain Valley are at home. It would 

 be hard to say what the leading fruit is in this district. Without 

 doubt the apple is most largely planted; but peaches, plums, and 

 cherries are all of considerable commercial importance, while in 

 one part or another of the valley may be found localities which 

 specialize in grapes, currants, or strawberries. In no other 

 pomological district in the state are the fruits quite so diversified. 



Here in Xew York if not in America, fruit growing as a 

 business may be said to have had its origin during the middle 

 of the last century. Possibly for this reason the industry for the 

 last quarter-century has been a little slack old methods and 

 old varieties have been permitted to linger too long. But there 

 now seems to be a general advance in agriculture in the valley, 

 and fruit growing is greatly improving. Certainly, oppor- 

 tunities for this industry are not better in any other part of 

 the state. 



ST. LAWRENCE AND CHAMPLAIN VALLEYS 



The high and rolling land tributary to Lake Champlain and 

 the St. Lawrence River, also such parts of the Adirondacks as are 

 adapted to fruit growing, comprise this district. Three divisions 

 could well be made of this district ; the two valleys could be kept 

 distinct, each to include only the area of lower land adjacent to 

 the water, and the third would be the high uplands which run 

 back into the Adirondacks. Fruits in the three districts do not 

 differ greatly, and we have therefore included the three regions 



