1150 



EARLE V. HARDENBURG 



topography is in 'general fairly level, tho the slightly rolling lands along 

 the north shore gradually rise until they merge into prominent hills along 

 the Sound. 



The potato sections of Long Island show an average growing-season ra'in- 

 fall of from 16 to 20 inches, which is somewhat higher than that of most of 

 the potato sections of New York. Rainfall seldom limits production here. 

 The tempering influence of the Atlantic Ocean affords a growing season of 

 approximately 200 days between killing frosts, which is greater than that 



FlG. 128. LENGTH OF GROWING SEASON (iN DAYS) 

 IN REGIONS SURVEYED 



of any other section of New York. The growing season on Long Island 

 is fully a month earlier than that in the other three regions under dis- 

 cussion. 



The soil of most of the potato-growing areas of Long Island is of a sandy 

 texture, topped by silty loam in layers of varying thickness. This is 

 counter to a rather common impression that the Long Island crop is pro- 

 duced in sandy soil. The greater part of .the central section of the island 

 does consist of sand, and this supports little vegetation aside from scrub 

 oak and pine. That the potatoes are grown mainly on the Sassafras 

 series of soil is shown in figure 129. 



