PROCEEDINGS OP THE SUMMER MEETING. 73 



PEACH CULTURE IN MICHIGAN. 



Notwithstanding our high latitude and supposed cold climate, Michigan 

 enjoys the reputation of growing peaches as successfully, if not more so, 

 as any other state in the Union. ' In fact, I believe it is the only state 

 that has not had a complete failure within twenty years. Of course, this 

 applies particularly to the fruit-belt proper, a belt some two hundred miles 

 long on the western shore of lake Michigan, extending inland from ten to 

 twenty-five miles and including the high lands of Allegan, VanBuren, and 

 Kent counties, further inland, besides certain other favored localities scat- 

 tered over the state. Such a thing as a total failure over all this region 

 has never been known. In view of the fact that the peach crop seems to be 

 entirely reliable over such a large territory in our state, and considering 

 our unequaled markets and shipping facilities, it would seem well that we 

 consider the lessons of the past, discuss the present situation, and study 

 the prospects for the future of this great industry. 



First, we will say that, with the possible exception of the apple crop, no 

 other fruit crop is watched with the same eagerness by the great army of 

 consumers, all over the country, as the peach crop. Large crops are hailed 

 with delight everywhere, and short ones with sorrow. 



The fact that successful peach culture is restricted to certain sections by 

 climatic influences, and even in those localities is further restricted by 

 certain diseases and insects, furnishes the only reason why it is so profitable. 



WHEEE TO PLANT A PEACH ORCHARD. 



To be entirely successful, peach orchards should never be planted on low, 

 wet lands, nor on any land that does not have free atmospheric drainage to 

 adjacent lower lands. 



Other conditions being right, the peach succeeds on a great variety of 

 soils, from light sand to heavy clay; but the ideal soil is a rich sandy or 

 gravelly loam. 



THE SORT OF MAN FOR A PEACH-GROWER. 



After a proper selection of a location and soil, permit me to say a word 

 about who should grow peaches and who should not. Peach-growing is 

 not what it was years ago, when you could set the trees in out-of-the-way 

 places, neglect them, and get plenty of fruit. 



The successful grower of today must be intelligent, alert, industrious, 

 and ambitious. Given these qualities and a suitable location anywhere 

 within this peach-belt, and no business pays better dividends today, nor 

 will in the future. But the " crank " who thinks he can cure yellows should 

 not be allowed to set peaches in any neighborhood. There is another class 

 of men who, for their own good, should not embark in the business — that 

 is the confiding men, who always wait for the smooth-tongued traveling 

 tree agent to come along and tell them what to set, finally supplying them 

 with a list of his "World Beaters," "Velvet Cheeks," "None Such," "Iron 

 Clads," and other impossible varieties, shown by beautiful colored plates 

 or by choice specimens of Oldmixon or Crawford in magnifying bottles. 

 I used to think that this class of agents should be landed in state prison, 

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