THE GEOGRAPHY OF FRUIT GROWING 623 



temperatures; the absolute minima for the two stations are, respectively, 

 — 25°F. and — 35°F. Near the one point commercial peach growing is 

 profitable; a few miles away it becomes unprofitable. The July tempera- 

 ture for Concord is identical with that for Fitchburg, Mass. (c/. Table 

 3), well within the zone of peach growing, and greater than that of 

 Roseburg, Ore. Apparently, then, for conditions obtaining in southern 

 New Hampshire, the northern limit of commercial peach production is 

 set by winter temperatures averaging between those for the two stations 

 given. 



Pierre, S. D., has as high or higher summer temperatures than many 

 sections where the peach grows readily, but its winter temperatures are 

 too low. Near Portland, Maine, the peach reaches its limit in ordinary 

 cultivation and is subject to winter injury. Portland, Ore., with a summer 

 temperature slightly lower, provides, through milder winters, conditions 

 such that the peach grows fairly well. Near Lincoln, Neb., the peach 

 grows about as at Portland, Maine; though the winter temperature 

 averages a shade lower, the summer is warmer, suggesting a greater 

 maturity in the fall with consequent ability better to withstand the winter. 

 This, however, is the only waj'- in which summer temperature may be 

 considered to influence peach growing in any large area of the United 

 States. The chief limiting temperature factor here comes in the winter. 

 Nevertheless the factor of summer temperature or the length of the grow- 

 ing season may become important in isolated areas along the northern 

 border of peach growing. 



Grape Growing as Influenced by Temperature. — The northern limit 

 of grape culture, as with the peach, is set by summer temperatures at 

 some points and by winter temperatures at others. Its course in Europe 

 has been defined as extending "from somewhat north of the mouth of the 

 Loire, where the Marne empties into the Seine, to the junction of the Aar 

 and the Rhine, north of the Erzgebirge, to about the 52° of latitude, 

 descends along the Carpathians to the 49°, extends on this parallel east- 

 ward, and near the Volga turns southward to its mouth, in the Caspian 

 Sea."ii 



Wine in considerable quantities was made north of this line, in Eng- 

 land, and even in Zeeland, in former times. This fact, sometimes cited 

 as proving a change in climate probably proves no more than a change in 

 taste. " It must be taken for granted that in those times when there was 

 no communication over long distances they were not very exacting in 

 regard to wine, particularly as the best wines were unknown, as must 

 have been the case in northern Germany, the Netherlands and England. 

 If the wine was harsh and sour, it was still wine. . . . With the 

 present facilities for communication and the competition in the wine 

 business resulting therefrom; vine culture is no longer profitable in many 

 places where 30 years ago it was so; . . ." 



