PEACHES FOR PROFIT. 129 



and good care, which are necessary in raising any farm product in order to 

 realize the best results. 



And of course I do not mean to imply that freedom from insect pests or 

 disease is necessary to make this business profitable. If it were we might as 

 well give over the question, and give up trying to raise any fruits, for it is a 

 general rule that each has its enemies, and their culture its difficulties, and 

 almost in the direct ratio of the importance and value of the fruit. 

 J^If there were no drawbacks to peach culture, Delaware and Maryland could 

 have supplied the markets of the whole country, and Michigan would probably 

 have never developed even what she has of her available fruit lands. But even 

 with the great discouragements of the ''Yellows," of severe spring frosts, and 

 one-sided location, the peach orchards of those States are still maintained and 

 profitable. 



The ffreat increase in the demand for fresh fruits of all kinds in the last few 

 years has opened our eyes to the mine of wealth that lies in the natural 

 resources of our State. In the first place Michigan is centrally located in the 

 United States, within easy reach of the great markets of our country, thus pos- 

 sessingf a srreat adrantagre over Delaware and California — the extreme east and 

 west, both in the time and expense of marketing. Secondly, the State is pro- 

 tected from the extremes of heat and cold by the great lakes which nearly 

 surround it; and thirdly, no State has a more intelligent, determined class of 

 citizens to investigate and apply the principles of pomology. 



The first question to settle after one has determined upon peach growing is 

 where to plant his orchard. This involves considerations of climate, market 

 facilities, soil and drainage, all matters of great importance. The climate of 

 Michigan is so variable that this question at once assumes prominence. The 

 peach is a native of Persia, and is a semi-tropical fruit. In order to raise it 

 profitably in a region so liable to sudden and severe cold, the most favorable 

 places only can be utilized to advantage. 



But years of culture in this country have partially acclimated the peach, so 

 that the more hardy varieties have been known to survive 16° below zero, and 

 bear a good crop the following season. It is a well-known fact that nearness to 

 large bodies of Avater insures a warmer atmosphere in winter and a cooler one 

 in summer. Applying this principle to the matter in hand we will naturally 

 look to those portions of the State lying nearest to the shores of our great lakes 

 as being best suited to this fruit by reason of modified climate. Now, as our 

 prevailing winds are westerly, and as passing over water will warm them, we 

 look to the eastern coast of Lake Michigan as affording the best climatic con- 

 ditions for peach growing in the State. The facts bear out the theory, and the 

 utilization of that section has rendered famous the fruit belt of Michigan. 

 There or anywhere else, climate is modified by the exact location, and there as 

 elsewhere the hill-tops, or at least high dry lands, are best adapted to our pur- 

 pose. The peach does not want too much protection, especially from the wind, 

 and always does better on high than on low land, because high ground is 

 generally warmer both as to air and soil. 



A peach tree will be injured by cold much quicker if its roots are in a wet, 

 heavy soil than if in one that is dry and porous. Therefore we need to look 

 well to the question of soil. Some persons seem to have a fixed conviction 

 that peaches require a light, sandy soil, and that a natural rotation of crops 

 would demand that peaches should be planted after hemlocks. This is alto- 

 gether a false notion, as a short exjierience would convince any one. For rea- 



