C2 STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



itowoc afforcls us good and convenient markets. I confess I am somewhat 

 prejudiced in favor of Oceana as a fruit-growing county, especially the lake 

 shore. This county, like Huron, is almost surrounded by water, as it extends 

 into Lake Michigan. Oar Lake Michigan is a larger body of water than those 

 which temper the climate of Huron County. In no part of the world, per- 

 haps, is the warm influence of a large body of fresh water more distinctly 

 marked than in Oceana County. 



Our county lies north of the 43d parallel. AVo are uorth of Omaha, Des 

 Moines, Toledo, Cleveland, and New York, and a parallel line running east 

 and west through our county would go through Canada, New York, Veriuont, 

 and New Hampshire, through Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota, Wyoming, 

 Idaho, and Oregon ; notwithstanding all this we stand in the front rank of 

 fruit-growing counties of our age. But a satisfactory explanation is found in 

 our geographical position, which is as unique as our productions are remark- 

 able. This brief and somewhat hasty review of the influence of water on our 

 climate is suflicient to show the wonderful capacity of our county for growing 

 fruit, and it can be grown here with the least possible care, while the people 

 of less favored regions have to prepare, if not make a soil, provide a shelter, 

 and labor, and wait for a scanty crop of small and inferior peaches. The 

 citizens of our highly favored land have thousands of acres of suitable soil, 

 where the trees grow luxuriantly and bear bountifully in a few years, almost 

 without care, and without any shelter. 



In conclusion, already a thousand cattle feed on our hills. Milk, honey, 

 wool, lumber, wheat, rye, oats, peaches, plums, and grapes, we produce in 

 abundance, all free to enjoy and no one to make us afraid. 



Mr. Holt: A glance at the map of Michigan will verify Mr. Sammons's 

 statements about the peculiar situation of Oceana county. Point Au Sable, 

 upon which i\Ir Sammons's fruit farm lies, the width of two towns farther into 

 Luke Michigan than Muskegon, and the land retreats rapidly toward the east 

 upon going uorth or south from the point, so that winds coming from almost 

 any direction except east must cross a body of water before trespassing upon 

 Mr. Sammons's premises. 



Mr. Atherly : I was about to inquire of the gentleman how he saved his 

 peaches from a cold east wave. We at South Haven have enough water except 

 to the east of us, but I can hardly see how, even in Oceana, peaches can escape 

 when the thermometer is dropping to all along below zero with a chilling blast 

 from over northern New England which has only been turned a little in its 

 course from ice-bound Labrador. 



Mr. Sammons: We have some high hills to the cast of us and those cold 

 winds shoot over. But most of the winds to be feared come from southwest, 

 west, and northwest, and from these we feel secure. 



!Mr. Holt : You hiust not forget that our great country reaches up to Alaska 

 where the entire business is breeding cold weather, and winds starting out iu 

 our direction from up there would come across the narrow ]iart of the lake for 

 you. I don't see but that in spite of your providential position that it would 

 be i)olicy to petition that the Alaska people blow easy. 



W. A. Browji : Just so, and at tlie same time, if they persist in l)lowing 

 hard, old Berrien lias the advantage, for nearly all of Lake Michigan would 

 be then brought into play for our especial benefit. 



Mr. Lyon: In all tliis talk about influence of water on climate do not 

 think you can be safe in warm (?) valleys by the lake. Elevation should in 

 all discussions of this kind be taken into consideration. 



