THE PEACHES OF THE MICHIGAN PEACH 



BELT. 



AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY HON. A. S. DYCKMAN, OF eOUTH HAVEN, 



AT ADRIAN, JUNE 23, 1874. 



Gentlemen : — When, about Ihe end of the lust lialf century, Eleazur Mor- 

 ton, George Parmelee, and Curtis Boughton, the pioneers of St. Joseph peach 

 culture, set their respective orchards, an aggregate area of about 25 acres, peo- 

 ple opened their eyes with amazement at this exhibition of lunacy, thinking 

 the production of such large orchards would overstock the market. Now, with 

 their estimated 59-i,4GT peach trees in that region, in 1872, besides extensive 

 orchard interests at South Haven, Saugatuck, Holland, Grand Haven, Spring 

 Lake, and other points north along the shore, our Western Michigan fruit 

 growers are relieved from the charge of lunacy, notwithstanding the reckless 

 manner in which they are raising peach trees by the hundreds of thousands. 

 But, to bring this subject to full comprehension, one should visit Chicago in 

 the season of harvest, and see the wilderness of fruit, by every avenue of com- 

 merce, seeking destination in every corner of the great Northwest. People are 

 in sober earnest ; the fruit supply has become one of the great necessities of 

 trade, and especially does the peach, with its delicious and health-giving quali- 

 ties, find a welcome in every mart. 



Although there are territorial limits, the area of successful peach culture is 

 more than sufficient for continual supply and healthful competition. The 

 Michigan peach belt alone is capable of supplying the whole Northwest in all 

 its prospective growth. The extent to which the supply is sought in this 

 direction will depend very much on the quality of our productions ; therefore, 

 to the attainment of the highest market qualities should our efforts primarily 



Note. — Tlie importance of the subject, and the historical, practical and useful nature of 

 this paper, is a sufficient explanation of its introduction and publication in this volume. 

 President Dyckman indicates and brings forward the four great peaches of the Michigan 

 Peach Belt, — the Early and- Late Crawford, the Barnard, and the Hill's Chili. Two of these, 

 the Barnard and the Hill's Chili, appear to be of equal great value with the two Crawfords, 

 hut of provincial note and character. They seem to be identified with the growth of peach 

 culture no where else as they are in the Michigan Peach Belt. Hence the importance of 

 their identification and history, and the proper classification of their numerous synonyms. 



But it is to the prominent points of pruning the peach tree and thinning the fruit that the 

 attention of the peach grower will be directed. President Dyckman discards the"short- 

 ening-in system." This system was a favorite one with A. J. Downing, and was advocated 

 by him in his most vigorous and eloquent manner. The " shortening-in system " has pro- 



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