42 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 



two hundred feet.* Along the eastern shore of Lake 

 Michigan, the peach area extends all the way from 

 one or two miles to fifteen or twenty, depending 

 upon the conformation of the surface. Along the 

 lower Hudson River the area of the tender fruits 

 does not depart, as a rule, more than a mile from the 

 stream. In very gradual slopes, the ameliorating in- 

 fluence of the water usuallj- extends farther, but it is 

 apt to be less marked than upon the lower parts of 

 abrupt slopes. In all these cases, the limit of the 

 boundary of the area is determined by two factors, 

 the distance from the water, and the elevation above it. 

 Tarr, after studying the local geography of the 

 Chautauqua grape country, makes the following ob- 

 servations upon the ameliorating influence of Lake 

 Erie, and the remarks will apply to most other 

 bodies of water: "The lake is a great modifier of 

 climate. In the spring, by reason of the low 

 temperature of its waters, it holds back the vege- 

 tation, and this tends to keep it behind the ordinary 

 frosts. Its very presence checks frosts by moderating 

 the temperature of the neighboring air. In the 

 summer, the water tends to cool the air of the day 

 and to keep the nocturnal temperature fairly high. 

 During the fall, the water has been warmed by the 

 summer sun, and the influence of this warm body 

 of water lengthens the growing season and tends to 

 keep off the early autumn frosts. There are many 

 other influences, but nothing of importance can be 



*For a detailed account of the physiography of this region, see R. S. Tarr, 

 Pull. 109, Cornell Exp. Stn, 



