198 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



VIII. — Proximity to good markets by water and railroad conminnication to 

 Chicago, Milwaukee, and the illimitable west and northwest, where fruit hasa- 

 constantly increasing demand. 



IX. — The Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore railroad runs along the eastern 

 boundary of this region, and a fruit train with ventilating spring cars, espe- 

 cially constructed for fruit, is run every night during shipping season. 



X. — The Lake Shore Agricultural and Pomological Society has appointed a 

 committee consisting of Messrs. Perrotet, "Wiley and Loomis, to arrange for the 

 cheap transportation of fruit either by special charter or contract. 



XL — Fruit baskets and crates are manufactured at Saugatuck. 



XIL — Several fruit-drying establishments will commence operation on the 

 grist plan at convenient points in time for the next fruit harvest. 



XIIL — An active and vigilant Horticultural Society, thoroughly devoted to 

 fruit interests, and ready to aid settlers in making the business profitable. 



XTV. — Good sectional and lake shore roads. 



XV. — Very moderate taxes, and they chiefly for school purposes. 



XVI. — Ample school and church accommodations. 



XVIL — Grist mills at convenient distances. 



XVIII. — Good mercantile establishments and moderate prices. 



XIX. — Several efficient Granger organizations. 



XX. — Masonic and Odd Fellows' Lodges in the several villages. 



XXI. — Good American society and hospitality. 



XXII. — Proximity to good reliable nurseries for trees. 



XXIII. — Abundance of lakes, springs, and everflowing streams of pure 

 water. 



XXIV. — Telegraphic communications from Saugatuck and at the railroad 

 stations with all fruit markets. 



XXV. — Varied scenery, both of water views and landscape, affording good 

 scope for artistic gardening and the construction of beautiful homes. 



SPECIALTIES. 



An inspection of this fruit region develops the fact that it is esiDecially 

 adapted to — 



I. — The growth of peaches and grapes, with as much certainty as any farm 

 crop, especially on the high lands that are light or gravelly. 



II. — The growth of apples, pears and quinces on the clay lands. 



III. — The growth of strawberries, raspberries and currants on the black soil, 

 usually found between the hills. 



IV. — The growth of onions on the black muck of the black ash and tama- 

 rack swamp land, which is abundant in patches interspersed throughout the re- 

 gion, and more especially along the north arm of the Black Eiver, where 0. E. 

 Johnson & Co. have lands for sale. 



These specialties are all crops commanding high prices. Onions, for in- 

 stance, grown in this region have been known to fetch $18 a barrel in the New 

 Orleans market, while 85 to $7 a barrel are realized at the markets nearer 

 home. At ^3 a barrel, an acre would jDroduce $400 worth. 



HOW THIS REGIOIf STOOD THE SEVEREST WINTER. 



The year 1873 commenced in the midst of an unusually severe winter, and 

 the State census taken in 1874 showed that in the produce of fruit, Ganges 

 stood second and Saugatuck third in the amount of fruit produced in 1873, of 



