326 Agricultural Manual 



DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY 



Although the pioneers found that the land through this sec- 

 tion produced grains and fruits abundantly, they experienced all 

 the. difficulties incident to a country with only distant markets and 

 limited means of communication. In order to obtain cash they 

 were obliged to resort to the products of the old-time asheries and 

 distilleries at the expense of their agricultural operations. These 

 products were hauled by teams to Albany during the first years of 

 trade, bringing in return the goods for the frontier stores. In 

 later years the canal opened up new markets, and gave them the 

 advantage of more and cheaper goods and better prices for prod- 

 ucts ; still greater changes were brought about by the railroads. 



The early history of the fruit industry was mainly the growing 

 of apples, pears, and peaches. It was not, however, until the city 

 markets were made available by improved means of transportation 

 that their production became of great importance. 



Small fruits succeed well in nearly all parts of the county, -and, 

 where properly managed, are a source of profit to the growers. 

 Other products are beans, potatoes, com, wheat, hay, canning 

 crops;, and dairy products. 



The feeding of winter lambs is an important business in some 

 sections, especially in the towns of Batavia, Bergen, Byron, and 

 Le Roy. 



CLIMATE AND RAINFALL 



Cljmatological records for Genesee County are taken from the 

 Elba station, which lies at an elevation of 750 feet. Average 

 dates for the last killing frost in spring and the first in fall are 

 May 11 and October 8, respectively, giving a growing season of 

 150 days. 



The following table, which is compiled from observations 

 begun in January, 1900, and continued for 15 years, shows both 

 normal and extreme temperatures and precipitation: 



