288 



BULLETIN 262. 



The climate is much influenced by Lake Ontario. Cool and moist 

 winds from the lake are modifying and unifying factors. Local and 

 seasonal precipitations are probably much affected by proximity to the 

 lake. The temperature is doubtless higher in winter and lower in sum- 

 mer because of nearness to Ontario waters. Attention is drawn to this 

 circumstance by the soil survey of the region, found in the Report of 

 the Field Operations of the Bureau of Soils for 1906, page 75. 



Age of the orchards. The accompanying table is interesting in show- 

 ing the rise and decline of apple-orchard planting in the county. It is 

 quite probable that a few orchards were planted previous to 1820, but 

 no records could be obtained to support this idea. Very few orchards 

 were set before 1855, and these were small ones for family rather than 

 commercial purposes. Shortly after this date, however, large orchards 

 were put out, and for a period of thirty-five years extensive plantings 

 were made; in fact 75.9 per cent of the orchards now of bearing age 

 were set between 1855 an d 1879. 



The most significant feature of this table, however, is the one that 

 shows the decline in plantings. This decline began about twenty-five 

 years ago, and has rapidly continued till the time of this survey. This 

 fact can hardly be attributed to the San Jose scale, for this insect has not 

 been prevalent, or at least not troublesome for much more than six 

 years. This matter of decreased plantings should not be looked upon 

 too lightly by the fruit grower of this section, for the tendency is such 

 as to cause alarm, and the final effect will be serious. 



I. DIFFERENT PERIODS OF PLANTING 



