PHYSICAL AND CLIMATIC SETTItfO 47 



The normal range in temperature that might be 

 expected from the reach of the State across four de- 

 grees of latitude is four degrees Fahrenheit. The 

 normal range in temperature that might be expected 

 due to the range in elevation from sea level to 5,379 

 feet at the crest of ^Mount Marcy is approximately 

 eighteen degrees Fahrenheit, or one for each 300 feet 

 elevation. Long-time records show that the range in 

 average temperature may exceed that, during the cold- 

 est months of winter when it reaches twenty degrees 

 — ten degrees on either side of the normal. In sum- 

 mer the range of average temperature from year to 

 year is ten to twelve degrees. Those regions which 

 have the coolest mean climate are likely to have the 

 largest range of extreme temperature. 



A critical phase of temperature with reference to 

 crop growth is the date of the last killing frost in 

 spring and the first in fall, which mark the limits 

 of the crop-growing period. The average length of 

 the growing season determined by these limits is 

 presented in Fig. 11. Less elevated regions have the 

 greatest freedom from late and early frosts and, there- 

 fore, enjoy the longest growing season. Since each 

 crop has an average minimum season in which it can 

 mature, these weather conditions have a determining 

 influence in the growth of particular crops. On the 

 southern plateau, the maturity of the ordinary varie- 

 ties of corn is very uncertain because of the shortness 

 and irregularity of the seasons. In the mountain re- 

 gions, severe frosts may occur any month in the year. 



Proximity to large bodies of water also affects the 



