AMONG THE ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS. 151 



A word further as to the future pomology of our State. 



"While her cultivators have done much, I might say everything to encourage 

 them, let no one for a moment believe that he has only to lilant and simply 

 gather his fruits. It will require care, — thoughtful and intelligent care ; a 

 constant watchfulness is demanded at every step ; unpropitious seasons, the 

 excessive cold of winter and the drouths of summer have to be provided for. 

 Insect depredators are constantly appearing and multiplying their species, re- 

 quiring his constant vigilance to exterminate or hold in check. Locations for 

 special kinds of fruit have to be studied, and soils properly adapted to the dif- 

 ferent species must be selected and deficiencies supplied, and many other requi- 

 sites must accompany his steps before success is made sure. Still, as I have 

 said, they have many things to encourage them ; the advantages of location, 

 climate, and variety of soils adapted to the growing of nearly all the valuable 

 fruits of the temperate zone, are unsurpassed by any State of the union. The 

 influence of the great lakes by which she is nearly surrounded, modifying the 

 winter's cold and checking the summer's heat through the length and breadth 

 of our State (for I am not one of those who believe that the influence of these 

 waters is confined to the narrow limits of a few miles along our western bor- 

 ders), are advantages enjoyed by none other. Her positiofi, midway between the 

 "great west" and the] Atlantic States, and within easy range of either, must 

 ever afi'ord an early market for her productions. Nor is it stretching the line 

 of prophecy to say that at no distant day the Eaisin shall rival the Rhine in 

 the value of her vintage, and Michigan stand unequaled among the States of 

 North America in the wealth of her horticultural productions. 



