316 Agricultural Manual 



development of industry 



The glove and mitten manufacturing industry of Fulton County 

 is believed to have been started as such at Kingsboro in 1809. At 

 this time no gloves were manufactured, the entire production 

 consisting of heavy mittens. At a later date material improve- 

 ments were made in the process of dressing the skins, when 

 they were made more flexible and suitable for the manufacture of 

 gloves. At the present time the leading industry in the cities 

 of Johnstown and Gloversville is the manufacture of these 

 articles. 



The northern part of Fulton County, with the exception of 

 portions of the town of Northampton^ is largely forest-covered, 

 and agriculture is of very little importance. Lumbering is 

 the principal industry, especially in the towns of Stratford, 

 Caroga, and Bleecker. Recently, however, the state has purchased 

 a large part of the northern portion of Caroga, together with 

 portions of Bleecker, Stratford, and Mayfield. In the town of 

 Northampton along the Sacandaga River, in the vicinity of 

 Xorthville, is a section where considerable agriculture is carried 

 on. Tn the southern part of the county dairying and general 

 agriculture are important, the principal products being market 

 milk, hay, potatoes, oats, buckwheat, and corn. 



CLIMATE AND RAINFALL 



The meteorological station of Fulton County is located at 

 Gloversville, 850 feet above sea level. The present observer is 

 Mrs. John McLean. 



Average dates for the last killing frost in spring and the first 

 in fall are May 10 ancr September 26, respectively, giving a grow- 

 ing season of 139 days. 



