304 THE SURVIVAL OP THE UNLIKE. [XVII. 



the left, peach -growing is possible, and the industry 

 is safe in proportion as the two lines diverge. At 

 the stations J, K and O, peach growing may be con-- 

 sidered to be far beyond danger of late frosts. These 

 tabulations would be valuable, of course, in proportion 

 as they include a minute record of every farm in the 

 given territory ; but even a somewhat supei-ficial series 

 of observations would possess great value if accurately 

 made, as indicating the probable influence of local 

 climate upon the given industry. If lines tend to 

 converge, or if the frost line passes back of the bloom 

 line, there is indication, at least, that safe peach lands 

 are few in those localities. The information which 

 these records ask could be well ascertained from ob- 

 servations upon a few peach trees here and there long 

 before any general experiment of cultivation had been 

 tried. 



There are no doubt many regions of the north 

 which are now almost devoid of peach orchards, which 

 could yield profitable fruit lands if persons could feel 

 sure that there is comparative immunity from late 

 frosts ; and, inasmuch as fruit growing is one of the 

 most profitable and pleasant of rural pursuits, it fol- 

 lows that the meteorological bureaus could here per- 

 form an inestimable service for the agriculture of the 

 country. Even in the older parts of the country infor- 

 mation of this kind would find ready use, for not one 

 of our states is yet developed to even a quarter of its 

 capabilities for fruit growing. 



Old lands which have been farmed over and have 

 lost most of their value for grain and stock, may still 

 be invaluable for fruits and other horticultural crops ; 

 but fruit growing reaches them very slowly and hesi- 



