ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS OF MICHIGAN. 311 



NUMBER THREE. 



This question of protection is one upon which the orchard committee have 

 held several animated discussions. There is something anomalous and occult 

 in the fact that many of the most exposed situations have proved to be, during 

 the past winter, the most thoroughly protected, taking for data the conditions 

 of orcharding. A single orchard that came under our notice having woodland 

 surroundings on the three most exposed sides, had received more material 

 injury from the cold winter than others upon the open heights of ground. A 

 thin belt of timber, which allows a free circulation of air and still breaks the 

 force of the highest winds, seems to be a valuable element in protection ; but 

 from our experience in this season's trip, even this we would scarcely recom- 

 mend. One fact is patent, that a large lake, or small ones fed by springs, or 

 even rivers from which fog arises and spreads over the adjoining country, are 

 a protection from late frosts in spring and early frosts in autumn. We have 

 found, up to the date of this writing, October 10th, very little evil effect from 

 frosts throughout the State. There has been no frost on Spring Lake, at 

 Monroe, Jackson, or Battle Creek, and they do not anticipate any on Traverse 

 Peninsula for some weeks I suppose. But to the work of the committee. Two 

 orchards yet remain in Van Buren county. The Dage orchard occupies about 

 three acres, containing 1,000 trees in good standing. It has borne five consec- 

 utive heavy crops, but this season has no fruit. The aggregate yield for 1871-3 

 was 10,000 baskets. Trees are all vigorous, and will have a heavy crop next 

 season if buds are safe data. The Bridges orchard, lying near, is three years 

 old, thrifty and promising, and actually bore early and late Crawford peaches 

 the next year after planting. These orchards are in Arlington township, out- 

 side of what is popularly termed the peach belt, still they claim with good 

 reason to be in an uncommonly favorable position for the growth of the peach. 



SPRING LAKE. 



The committee's reporter was criticised pretty "lively" for some remarks 

 made last season upon the quality of the soil at Spring Lake, which were taken 

 as derogatory to the best interests of that locality. We humbly bow to these 

 good people, and beg leave to say that we will retract nothing, but wish to 

 supplement the report of last season with that which will honestly compliment 

 their locality. The orchards entered by J. B. Soule, situated on the east border 

 of Spring Lake, were not upon a blowing sand, did not lack in culture, and 

 the land contained manurial elements in abundance. Yet better than any- 

 thing else we could say, the orchards have a good bottom, being underlaid by 

 a solid clay subsoil into which the trees firmly strike root and receive abund- 

 ant moisture to su|)port a healthy circulation and secure a thrifty growth. 

 Two of Mr. Soule's orchards will undoubtedly receive first premiums, and the 

 third one grades very high. One method of fertilizing employed here is 

 worthy of notice. The land in the orchard is thoroughly cultivated until time 

 to sow buckwheat, then it is sown and the crop plowed under. Mr. Soule 

 informed us that he intended to experiment a little with a portion of his year- 

 ling peach orchard, by mowing the buckwheat and using it as a mulching. It 

 will thus serve the double purpose of a fertilizer and to catch and retain the 

 snow about the trees. 



GRAND RAPIDS. 



At this point the committee were conveyed to a high point of land north of 

 the city, where Mr. J. M. Dean presented his entries, a fine peach orchard and 



