518 Ai.iari hi kai. Manual 



the Shawangunk Mountains is extensively cultivated, but the 

 production does not equal that of the central belt. Neither the 

 large area west of .Basher Kill valley nor the highlands in the 

 east are important for cultivation, although many sections are 

 suitable for grazing. Jn general, the farming and stock-raising 

 industries, as well as the dairy industry, are well distributed 

 over the agricultural part of the county, dairying being more 

 prominent near the railroads, and stock raising and grain farm- 

 ing predominating in the more distant sections. 



The region in the southwestern part, formerly known, as " the 

 drowned lands ? ' and consisting of about 17,000 acres, was orig- 

 inally covered with water and a dense growth of cedars. This 

 section, much of which has been drained, forming a fine agri- 

 cultural section, was for a time devoted to the growing of hemp. 

 It is one of the largest deposits of muck under cultivation in this 

 part of the United States. Very extensive onion crops are grown, 

 also celery, lettuce, spinach, and carrots. Vegetables arc largely 

 produced in the towns of Newburgh, YVallkill, Chester, Green- 

 ville, and Monroe. This county now stands among the foremost 

 in the state in market garden crojjs, hundreds of acres being 

 annually devoted to the production of onions alone. 



Similarly, the production of apples is widely distributed over 

 the agricultural area of the county. The growing of small fruits, 

 however, as well as the main part of the area in peach orchards, 

 is confined to the eastern, mainly the northeastern, part of the 

 county, although more or less development has taken place at 

 other points in the Hudson River hills. The growing of apples 

 is on the increase, in some sections to the extent of reducing the 

 milk industry. 



Poultry raising is also a prominent branch of agriculture and 

 is very generally distributed. In some sections alfalfa is success- 

 fully grown, forming a valuable feed for dairy cattle. 



Manufacturing is prominent in Newburgh and Middletown. 



CLIMATE AND RAINFALL 

 Climate-logical records in Orange County have been taken at 

 Port Jervis, at an elevation of 470 feet. The present observer 

 is VY. IT. Xoarpass. 



