400 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the northern part of the State, while in the southern half they run more 

 uniformly across the State. This is caused very largely by the ameliorat- 

 ing influence of Lalie Michigan, felt very perceptibly along the northern 

 counties which are protected from the severe northwest winds; but it is 

 not felt in any appreciable degree as we go down the western side of the 

 State. And so it often happens that the temperature falls lower seventy- 

 five miles south of Lake Michigan than it does in the counties bordering 

 on Michigan. This difference is often great enough to render peach-gi-ow- 

 ing in this section, as a commercial business, out of the question. From 

 the northeastern portion of the State south to the Ohio river, And covering 

 all that territory not already mentioned, the climate is not so severe, and 

 fine crops of peaches are often produced. 



FOR GENERAL FARM CROPS. 



A line starting near Michigan City and running in an irregular direc- 

 tion, and taking in most of the famous Kankakee marshes, thence in a 

 southerly and westerly direction, finally striking the west line of the State 

 a little north of Teri'e Haute, will show, approximately, that portion of 

 the State that Is better adapted to the gi'owing of general farm crops than 

 fruit. This is not wholly due to climatic causes, but in a large degree to 

 adverse soil conditions. A large portion of this region is flat prairie land, 

 much of it once covered with marshes, but with modern drainage facilities 

 nearly all of this naturally fertile land has been improved until it has be- 

 come one of the best farming sections in the State. Only occasional spots, 

 however, are high enough for orchard purposes, but small fruits and 

 vegetables gi-ow with the greatest luxuriance, large quantities of which 

 are shipped to the Chicago market. 



A region in the Kankakee valley, including Starke and adjoining coun- 

 ties, is famous for its sugar beet productions. The soil here is of a sandy 

 nature, eminently adapted to the culture of this vegetable, specimens hav- 

 ing been analyzed which yielded 22 per cent, of sugar, with a co-efficient 

 of 90 to 95 pure. 



While there are not many large commercial orchards found in the 

 northern and eastern portions of the State, the soil and climate are ad- 

 mirably adapted to the growing of all kinds of orchard fruits, with the 

 exception of peaches, which are grown only to a limited extent. Here 

 we find a sandy or clay loam, Avith clay subsoil, which was originally cov- 

 ered with oak, maple, hickory, walnut and all kinds of hard woods found 

 in this climate. The surface is more or less rolling, with numerous small 

 lakes dotting the landscape, thus insuring both soil aud atmospheric drain- 

 age. In the shallow waters of some of these lakes and marshes the cran- 

 berry finds congenial surroundings, and in the sandy districts of Pulaski, 

 Fulton, Kosciusko and suii'ounding counties the huckleberry grows to per- 

 fection. 



