708 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



conditions are not found in the northern portion of the state. The crop 

 will niatnre in 100 to 120 days when the weather is sufficiently warm, 

 l»ut 120 to l'>0 days are necessary to ripen it well if the weather is cool. 

 Keferrinj; ajjain to Charts XI, XII and XIII, showing frost dates and 

 the length of the frostless season in various sections of Michigan it will 

 be seen that many portions of the state are unsuitable for corn. 



The winter varieties of wheat are grown exclusively in Michigan be- 

 cause there is usually sufficient snow to protect the crop through the 

 winters, which are not so severe, as has been pointed out, as those in 

 the northwest. Some "winter killing" occurs largely on. account of 

 alternate freezing and thawing when the ground is bare, but on the 

 average the yield is satisfactory. The same statements apply to rye, 

 which is also soavu in the fall. 



Oats and barley seem to find satisfactory temperature environment in 

 nearly all portions of the state, and good crops are usually obtained 

 where the soil is suitable. 



Other crops which are successfully grown in Michigan on account, in 

 a measure, of favorable temperature conditions, are hay, potatoes, beans, 

 sugar beets, cucumbers, peas, chicory, mint and various other minor 

 crops. It is doubtful if any other state in the union has a wider range 

 of crops of rather large proportions than this state, largely due to the 

 combination of marine and continental temperature conditions of this 

 state and the local variations of other climatic elements as well, which 

 have already been noted. 



Fruit is a leading product of Michigan, largely on account of the 

 very favorable climatic conditions produced by the Great Lakes. A 

 narrow strip of the state extending along Lake Michigan is especially 

 adapted to fruit and has been given the name of the "Fruit Belt" be- 

 cause of this fact. Among the climatic conditions found in this section 

 that are favorable to fruit growing are, first, the continuation of cool 

 weather into late spring which tends to retard the opening of fruit buds 

 until danger from late frosts is past; second, unusually clear and not 

 too hot summer weather, which produces good color and flavor in the 

 fruit; third, prolonged cool falls, with freedom from early frosts, which 

 tends to ripen up the wood properly, and. fourth, a moist atmosphere 

 and freedom from extreme cold in winter which prevents Avinter injury. 

 The fruit industry is still in its infancy in this favored section, but 

 growers are beginning to realize the possibilities of the region. 



The precipitation which normally falls in Michigan is sufficient for 

 the crops which have been mentioned. But here again statements of 

 exact relationships are as yet impossible. Briggs and Shantz^ have 

 worked out the actual rainfall requirements to produce a pound of dry 

 Aveight in corn and Smith^ has found that the yield of corn, potatoes and 

 other crops is largely a matter of securing the required amount of moist- 

 ure during certain short critical periods. Investigations in Italy and 

 Kussia have indicated that wheat also has a "critical period" during 

 Avhich the yield is determined by the amount of rain then available. But 

 much more work must be done before the rainfall efficiency for crops 

 can be stated for any section. 



In general it is important that the precipitation for the year should 

 be ample, and also that it should be suitably distributed through the 

 months so that a sufficient supply Avill be available when the crops are 



