LAND USES 13 



PHYSICAL FACTORS 



Climate 



From the physical point of view primary consideration should be given to 

 climate and the length of the growing season. While very great extremes in 

 temperature in Massachusetts seldom occur for more than a few successive days, 

 there is a considerable variation from one locality to another. On the average 

 there are from 40 to 50 inches of rainfall during the year. The length of growing 

 season is subject to wide variations depending mostly on local conditions, such as 

 elevation and air drainage, proximity to the shore, and the influence of winds. 

 A very uneven topography makes it difficult to indicate the length of growing 

 s^son for any large area. 



A rfecent study in Essex County (Map 1) brings out vividly the fact that in- 

 dividual farms in the same locality have their own climatic problems which must 

 be closely studied in order to obtain the best results from farming operations. 



Even with all these irregularities and variations in climatic conditions, the farm 

 operators of a few decades ago were able to adjust themselves to a comparatively 

 high level of utilization of the land resources. Under present-day conditions, 

 however, when competitive factors are more potent and readjustments in pro- 

 duction more frequent, climate often becomes a limiting factor. The introduction 

 of each new crop into a locality is followed by a period of uncertainty during which 

 some producers find that climatic conditions on their farms are unfavorable and 

 lead to considerable losses with continued production of the same crop. The 

 most important factor, however, which has contributed to many failures and the 

 abandonment of much land, is the attempt of many farmers, especially vegetable 

 growers, to advance or retard the growing season to meet competition from other 

 areas. Failure under these conditions leaves the impression that the soil or 

 climate is not favorable, whereas the true cause is the artificial forcing of a type 

 of cultivation which runs contrary to the prevailing physical background. Some 

 areas in the eastern part of the State, therefore, were left out of vegetable produc- 

 tion and by virtue of their location in high-cost sections were also barred from 

 less intensive types of agricultural utilization. 



Erosion and Deterioration of Soil 



With the withdrawal of land from agriculture in Massachusetts going on at a 

 rapid rate over a period of several decades, there has been a constant increase 

 in the forested area. The decline in agricultural land use has been traditionally 

 explained in terms of economic pressure or technological changes. As for soil 

 erosion and exhaustion, the general notion was that they were only minor factors 

 in the agriculture of the State, all the more since the major portion of the State 

 area was under protective forest cover. The first soil erosion reconnaissance 

 survey made in Massachusetts early in 1930 indicated that very little soil erosion 

 of much consequence existed in Massachusetts. Another survey made in 1938 

 indicated that soil erosion was more widespread and more serious than had been 

 previously recognized. A more detailed study made in 1939 and 1940* came to 

 the conclusion that accelerated erosion is both more extensive and more severe 

 than the previous survey indicated. It was pointed out, furthermore, that 

 erosion formerly was more severe and that many areas now under protective 

 cover of grass or trees had suffered severe losses in the past. By accepting this 

 point of view it is possible to explain to a considerable extent the retirement of 



'Beaumont, A. B., and Kucinski, K. Conservation of Massachusetts Soils. Mass. State Col., 

 Ext. Bui. 193, 1941. 



