Z CIRCULAR 303, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



These detailed studies have been supplemented by observations 

 and numerous field examinations of the soils throughout the apple- 

 growing sections of this lake-shore district, and in all these sections a 

 very definite relation was found to exist between the soil profile, the 

 depth of rooting, condition of the orchards, and apple production. 



CLIMATE 



The importance of the lake-shore district for apple growing, as for 

 the growing of other tree fruits, is owing largely to climatic conditions. 

 Near the lake the tempering influence of this large body of water affords 

 protection from the extremely low temperatures reached on the higher 

 lands but a few miles from the shore. 



As recorded by the United States Weather Bureau station at 

 Rochester, the mean annual temperature is 47° F., and the absolute 

 minimum is — 14°. At Cortland, in Cortland County, about 50 miles 

 inland and at a higher elevation, the minimum is — 30° and at Coopers- 

 town, about 100 miles from the lake, —33°. 



The equalizing influence of the lake also prevents early blooming 

 and injury from late spring frosts. At Rochester the average date of 

 the last killing frost in spring is April 29, at Cooperstown it is May 5, 

 and at Cortland May 15. Injury occurs at times, in the lake district, 

 from cold cloudy weather in the spring, particularly at blossom time. 

 Bees and other pollen-distributing insects do not work well under such 

 conditions, and poor pollination results. 



The normal annual precipitation for this district is about 32 inches. 

 At Sodus it is 29 inches, at Lockport 30.97 inches, at Rochester 32.83 

 inches, at Brockport 33.08 inches, and at Oswego 35.21 inches. This 

 is sufficient moisture, in a latitude of such low evaporation as this, for 

 the production of good crops, provided soil and subsoil are favorable 

 for its conservation. 



On certain soils during periods of unusual drought apples and other 

 crops suffer from lack of moisture. In orchards this is indicated by 

 thin, pale foliage, by premature ripening, and by small-sized fruit. 

 Under such conditions even the trees may be injured. 



Injury from excessive moisture in the subsoil, especially during 

 seasons of unusual precipitation is, however, believed to be much 

 greater than that from lack of moisture during drought. 



Apple growers of this district express the opinion that much injury 

 was caused by excess precipitation during the years 1925, 1926, and 

 1927, and that this injury was so serious that orchards in many places 

 have not yet fully recovered. 



Weather records during this period show a precipitation as com- 

 pared with the normal as follows: At Rochester, from 0.76 inches 

 below the normal in 1925 to 0.82 inches above the normal in 1927; at 

 Oswego, from 1.17 inches below the normal in 1926 to 2.16 inches 

 above the normal in 1925; and at Lockport, from 1.32 inches above 

 the normal in 1926 to 3.98 inches above the normal in 1927. The 

 greatest increase above normal, that at Lockport, averaged only 2.46 

 inches a year for the 3 wet years. 



Under favorable conditions of deep, well-drained soil and subsoil, 

 especially where there is good surface drainage, it is doubtful that a 

 small increase of moisture would be seriously harmful. On the other 

 hand, where orchards are being grown on soils not naturally well 

 suited for the purpose, or where the topography is flat without well- 



