CROZIER ON TENDENCIES IN HORTICULTURE. 33 



territory an equalizing influence "truly comparable to that exerted by the 

 great oceans." Dr. Winchell pointed out that for a period of eleven years 

 the coldest temperature reached at the Straits of Mackinac was only one 

 degree lower than at the city of Chicago during the same period. In 

 calling attention to this fact Dr. Winchell at the same time expressed his 

 belief that so far as winter-killing was concerned peach orchards and 

 vineyards would be perfectly secure along the whole eastern shore of Lake 

 Michigan. 



At the time this prediction was made there was only one county in the 

 state extensively engaged in fruit growing, namely, Berrien, lying in the 

 extreme southwest corner of the State. We now have the well known 

 "Michigan fruit belt/' extending along the line suggested nearly thirty 

 years ago. and lacking but one county of completing the entire distance 

 from the head of Lake Michigan to the Straits of Mackinac. 



One other physical fact bearing upon the successful cultivation of the 

 tender fruits was first popularly demonstrated at about the time this lake 

 influence became known. I refer to the influence of minor elevations 

 upon temperature. The fact that the summits and slopes of ordinary 

 hills, having an elevation of no more than fifty to one hundred feet, may 

 in extremely cold weather be enough warmer than the low lands adjoin- 

 ing to make all the difference between the success and failure of a fruit 

 crop, or in the case of peaches even the life and death of the trees, was 

 first pointed out so far as I know by Hon. J. G. Ramsdell of Traverse City. 



These two facts, the ameliorating influence of the Great Lakes upon the 

 general climate and the modifying effect of air drainage upon the local 

 temperature, were taken up by the Michigan State Horticultural Society 

 upon its organization in 1870 and thoroughly impressed upon the people of 

 the state as of fundamental importance in the cultivation of fruit. And 

 it is chiefly because the fruit growers of the state have recognized these 

 facts and have acted in accordance therewith that Michigan occupies its 

 present advanced position among fruit growing states. 



Meanwhile other natural features of our state are having their influence 

 upon the development of its horticulture. The extensive swamps and 

 marshes which retarded the early settlement of the state are now proving 

 as valuable for the production of vegetables as are the higher hills for the 

 production of fruit. Quietly, and probably unknown to the majority of 

 our citizens, many of these unsightly and unwholesome lands have been 

 reclaimed and are now producing the finest crops of onions, cabbages, 

 cauliflowers, celery, peppermint, as well as some of the ordinary farm 

 crops. It is said that more than one-half of the world's supply of the oils 

 of peppermint, spearmint and tansy is produced in this State; Michigan 

 celery is regularly shipped to all the leading markets in the United States 

 from Denver to the Atlantic seaboard. 



The evident adaptation of these swamp lands to market gardening pur- 

 poses, and the large amount of such land in this state still unreclaimed, 

 render any facts connected with their further development of general 

 interest. The question of draining these swamp lands has been quite 

 thoroughly studied and is not generally a difficult one to solve. Several 

 other matters, however, need to be considered. Over drainage has often 

 to be guarded against. Where the water supply comes from the surface 

 only drainage sometimes leaves a muck swamp in a condition to suffer 



