A STUDY OF FACTORS INFLUENCING THE YIELD OF POTATOES 1155 



Elevation is not an influential factor in this region, since its variation 

 is only between 400 and 1000 feet, the average being 592.5 feet. In general 

 the topography is gently rolling, and in only a very few places is it suffi- 

 ciently uneven to affect production or the usual cultural practices. 



The growing-season rainfall is somewhat less than that of the other 

 regions, ranging normally from 14 to 16 inches. However, it is seldom 

 insufficient for maximum production. Due to the tempering influence of 

 Lake Ontario, the average growing season is 165 days, which is somewhat 

 longer than that of the other regions except Long Island. 



The soils on which the potato crop is produced are principally of the 

 Dunkirk and Ontario series, as shown in figure 129. Altho both of these 

 soils are naturally fairly fertile, a study of comparative yields shows that, 

 other things being equal, the Dunkirk soils gave the higher production. 

 The soil map of Monroe County shows an especially wide range in soil 

 types within each of these series. 



The cropping system of this region is usually a four-years rotation of 

 potatoes and grain or another crop, oats, wheat, hay. Corn is most 

 commonly chosen as the additional cultivated crop to be raised with 

 potatoes, tho beans and cabbage are sometimes used. The value of potato 

 land ranged from $50 to $250 an acre, the average acre value being $150. 

 The farms surveyed averaged 112.07 acres in size, 11 per cent of the total 

 acreage being in potatoes; and the importance of the crop is emphasized 

 by the fact that 15 per cent of the crop acreage is in potatoes. The average 

 yield per acre of the 1913 crop, for the 3728.25 acres of potatoes on the 

 300 farms, was 126.2 bushels. 



FRANKLIN AND CLINTON COUNTIES 



The areas of production in Franklin and Clinton Counties are two: one 

 consists of a broad, level stretch of fertile valley land along the St. Law- 

 rence River, extending across the northern end of Franklin County and 

 over into Clinton County; the other consists of hill and valley farms 

 on each side of the Saranac River, in central Clinton County. In both these 

 areas the potato lands extend back into the foothills of the Adirondack 

 Mountains. Most of the production centers in Franklin County are located 

 along the Rutland Railroad, while the Delaware and Hudson Railroad 

 handles most of the crop of Clinton' County. The greater part of the sur- 

 plus is marketed in the eastern seaboard markets after the early crops of 

 Long Island, New Jersey, and the South have been sold. A thriving 

 trade in seed potatoes has been developed with Long Island, New Jersey, 

 and southern points. 



Being in close proximity to the Adirondack Mountains, this region has 

 a wide range in elevation. It varies from 300 to 1850 feet, the average 

 for the farms surveyed being 1038.2 feet. The excellent yields obtained 

 at the higher altitudes are due largely to the cool climate there afforded. 



