G02 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



farms Avheu brought under tillage ; high and dry sandy plains are common, 

 and ^vhich are our best strawberry fields, vineyards and peach orchards ; clay 

 bluffs and a few wet marshes and swales are also found. Some very heavy 

 clay sections exist, where good wheat and other grains are grown. There are 

 also many sections of intermingling areas of clay and sandy loam, with small 

 sand knolls. Some beds of marl and of peat are found. 



THE TIMBER. 



This is largely pine, but there are sections of fine beech and hemlock, others 

 of soft maple and ash, others of oak and some hard maple and elm — but save 

 in some favored localities the forest has beem mostly cut for lumber or burned 

 by the fires. Enough, however, is left for wood for many years to come. 



PRODUCTS. 



The county is yet comparatively new, but is rapidly developing. Thousands 

 of acres invite the earnest farmer and intelligent fruit-grower to good invest- 

 ment and well-rewarded labor. 



The strawberry is at home here ; over 400 acres are now planted within five 

 miles of this city; one hundred and seventy-one bushels of strawberries 

 have been grown per acre, while perhaps fifty bushels is an average crop ; and 

 one hundred acres of flourishing vineyards are now growing, and others are be- 

 ing planted. 



On our elevations peaches are a sure crop; thousands of trees are growing, 

 and many thousands are to be planted the coming year. Tlie plum is also a 

 good crop, as are pears and cherries. The apple orchards are yet young, but 

 promise well. Large plantations of the finer raspberries and blackberries are 

 being made, while cranberry culture would be a paying investment to those 

 who have suitable lands. Our crops of wheat, rye, oats and corn, generally 

 good, were better than usual this year, and each year will add to the amount 

 of acres sown to these cereals. Itoot crops, as potatoes and turnips, succeed 

 remarkably here. 



MARKETS. 



Our advantages as to sale of products are excellent; Muskegon city with its 

 12,000 inhabitants, its lumber trade, requiring thirty thirty saw mills and 

 shingle mills, and an annual port entry of 3,300 vessels, besides its other man- 

 ufacturing interests will always make a good home market. Whitehall and 

 Montague, with 5,000 inhabitants and similar interests make also a large home 

 consumption. 



The surplus, great or small, is easily shipped from the ten or more lake ports 

 or from the sixteen railroad stations upon the four railroads passing through 

 the county, and portions of it to the great markets west for fruit, and east for 

 other j)roducts. 



STOCK. 



The stock of the country is yet small in amount; two or three herds of Short- 

 horns have been begun; a few flocks of good sheep commenced, while some ex- 

 cellent horses have been recently brought in, and tlie better breeds of hogs and 

 poultry are appearing in creditable numbers. 



Our farmers are all awakening to tlie need of better stock, especially sheep, 

 and will soon, we hope, largely add to this industry. The dairy stock too, 

 needs to be improved and increased to supply the home market for milk and 

 butter. 



