392 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



spend a day in each county visited, and so far as they could in the limited 

 time, to observe the natural agricultural conditions. The counties vis- 

 ited were Marquette, Iron, Dickinson, and Menominee. Of course the 

 work was more or less superficial, liut I*rof. Wheeler has studied the 

 botany and geoloj^y of the whole region, and speaks from the scientist's 

 standpoint. Mr. Ball is a close observer, and a successful farmer, and 

 speaks from that standpoint. We therefore present their reports, as 

 being valuable contributions to the knowledge of the resources of our 

 State. The visits were made in late September. 



PROF. WHEELER'S REPORT. 



Superintendent of Farmers' Institutes: 



Dear Sir— According to your directions, one day during eacli of the Farmers' 

 Institutes held in September, 1896, at Marquette, Iron River, and Norway, was 

 spent in malcing a preliminary examination of the soil and forest conditions in the 

 vicinity of the places named. The following report is respectfully submitted: 



The extent of the upper peninsula of Michigan from east to west is about 318 

 miles; width, 30 to 164 miles, forming about two-fifth of the State. The general 

 elevation is 400 to 1.100 feet above Lal^e Superior. A line drawn from the city of 

 Marquette south and west to the mouth of the Sturgeon river divides the peninsula 

 into two unequal sections, which present very marked surface and geological con- 

 trasts. The eastern portion is underlaid with sandstones and limestones. These lie 

 in a horizontal position, making the floor of the level country to be found from 

 Sault Ste. Marie westward. These plains slope gradually northward from the 

 southern borders to a watershed and thence fall rapidly to the shores of Lake 

 Superior. This portion of the State contains many lakes and marshes, and a few 

 fine forests of mixed pine and hardwood remain. The principal portion of the agri- 

 cultural lands is to be found in this section. The western portion is in marked 

 contrast with the eastern. Here are the iron and copper areas covered with the 

 oldest known rocks, which have been tilted up at various angles by volcanic action, 

 forming a rugged, broken surface, with little agricultural land except in the south- 

 western portion. 



MARQUETTE COUNTY. 



The soil in Marquette county is a mixture of the pulverized red sandstones lying 

 along the lake shore and the drift brought from the north and eastward. South and 

 east of the city of Marquette the soil is light and sandy. A part of Chocolay and 

 West Branch townships was examined. The trees and shrubs along the firs't'part 

 of the route were those common to the light, sandy plains of northern Michigan, 

 viz.: Three species of poplar, the American aspen, the large-toothed aspen, and the 

 balsam poplar, named in the order of size and value; small, paper, or canoe birches, 

 pin cherries, jack pines, white and Norway pines, hemlocks, white spruce, balsams 

 and arbor-vitse, with occasionally a stunted red oaJv and red maple. 



Entering Chocolay township the land begins to improve in quality, due to the 

 limestone I'ocks which underlie the soil south of the lake shore. The whole of 

 this part of the route shows the destructive effect of lumbering operations, followed 

 by forest fires, leaving a dreary, blackened ruin, which, however, is relieved at 

 this season of the year by the most brilliant autumn colors of maples, poplars, 

 birches, pin cherries, set against the greens of numerous white spruces, pines and 

 hemlocks. 



The deciduous trees in the township of West Branch became larger in size and 

 more numerous. The pin cherries and poplars give place to large, fine sugar 

 maples, basswoods, chen-y birches, elms, and large hemlocks. Comfortable farm- 

 houses now become more frequent, the clearings are larger and young orchards are 

 planted generally. The soil continues to impx-ove as we pass southAvard along 

 the Chocolay river. The farms are more numerous, better buildings, better crops 

 of spring wheat, oats, barley, peas, potatoes, and even some fields of corn 

 are seen. The best timber is seen on Sec. 12. Here is a thrifty Swedish settle- 



