532 Agku Li/i i i; \-, Manual 



agara by tin- British, many fled from their homes for a time. 

 After the return of peace the tide of immigration again set in 

 toward this region, most of the settlers choosing locations in the 

 immediate vicinity of the ridge road until the completion of the 

 Erie Canal. Since that time progress throughout the county has 

 hccn uninterrupted. 



DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY 



A portion of the county lying north of the ridge road was 

 known in early times as the <k North Woods," from the fact that it 

 was heavily timbered with white wood, oak, hemlock, elm, beech, 

 pine, basswood, and maple. Much of the oak was squared and 

 sent to Europe for shipbuilding. Large quantities of other lum- 

 ber were shipped to distant parts of the country, but by far the 

 larger portion of this timber was burned where it fell and the 

 ashes were made into potash or black salts, which formed the 

 chief article of money value to the pioneer. 



The fruit interest has been developed within the past twenty- 

 five years, until it has become the leading industry in the county, 

 occupying about one-fourth of the cultivated land. Most atten- 

 tion is given to fruit growing in the northern half of the county, 

 due to the fact that spring freezes are less likely to injure fruit 

 buds than in the southern part. While all fruit plantings have 

 been extended, a greater increase has been made in peach planting 

 than in any other. In addition to the favorable climatic and soil 

 conditions, the development of better transportation and mechan- 

 ical cold storage has had a considerable influence in increasing the 

 acreage of fruit. 



According to the agricultural census of 1918 Orleans County 

 ranks second in Xew York State in the production of peaches, 

 plums, and quinces, and third in apples and pears. Excluding 

 fruit, the cash crops are winter wheat, beans, cabbage, potatoes, 

 tomatoes, and peas for canning, and muck crops — lettuce, onions, 

 and celery. The county also ranks third in the production of 

 canning crops, including peas, tomatoes, and beans, these erops 

 having been largely substituted for field beans. Barley and other 

 cereals are generally raised. 



