302 STATE rOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



our society could not do better than devote a meeting to the question of mar- 

 kets and marketing. The next address was upon 



THE GRAXD TRAVEKSE REGION AS A FRUIT COUNTRY. 



BY J. G. RAMSDELL, OF TRAVERSE CITY. 



Mr. President — Tlie country comprised under the general term Grand 

 Traverse Ivegion is bounded on tlie north and west by Lal<e Micliigan, on the 

 cast by the meridian line, and on the south by an indcfniite lino running through 

 the counties of Manistee, "Wexford and Missaukee. 



A portion of this country lying along Lake Michigan, around Crand Traverse 

 Bay, and bordering the larger inland lakes of lienzie, Leelanaw, Antrim and 

 Charlevoix counties — the parts of this country first settled — has become some- 

 what noted for the excellence and great variety of fruit whicli it produces, and 

 the question to which I shall call your attention is the extent of territory in that 

 region capable of producing the various kinds of fruit. 



The capacity of a country for the successful growing of fruit depends upon 

 two primary conditions, the character of its soil and the nature of its climate. 



Dr. Hominger, in tlie third volume of the "Geological Survey of Michigan," 

 has seen fit to condemn this country both as an agricultural and a fruit country, 

 that is, that it cannot maintain the reputation it now has in these respects. 

 One occupying the position of Dr. Kominger should be careful about expressing 

 opinions of this nature without first having made a tliorough personal examin- 

 ation of its soil, based ui)on extensive scientific research, and a study of its 

 climatology, based upon something more than isotliermal lines and mean annual 

 temperature. A scientist should be careful about expressing closet opinions on 

 the agricultural resources of a new and undeveloped country. Considering the 

 high t^ource from which tlii.s adverse opinion comes it ought not to be allowed 

 to go unchallenged, I shall therefore take this opportunity to demonstrate, upon 

 scientific principles, that the soil of this region is as rich in every earthy ele- 

 ment, favorable to plant growth, as any country in the known world ; and that 

 its climate and topography are snch as to favor the growth and ripening, over 

 a large portion of its territor}-, of every variety of fruit, ranging in tenderness 

 from the Siberian crab up to and including the peach and mulberry. 



The mineral or inorganic parts of a soil are formed by the disintegration of 

 rocks, and its character is determined l)y the composition of the rock or rocks 

 from which it is derived and the manner of their disintegration. Kocks may 

 be broken up, ground and more or less pulverized by mechanical power or dis- 

 solved by chemical action. By the first ])roces^ all the mineral matter of the 

 rocks remain as ingredients of the soil. By the second method a large portion 

 of plant feeding material becomes easily soluble and is washed out and carried 

 away. Ordinary granite rock, pulverized by mechanical power, would give a 

 soil rich in silica, jiotasli, alumina and }ieroxyd of iron, while if dissolved by 

 atmospheric action tlie potash and alumimi arc easily dissolved and washed out 

 by the rains, leaving a line, barren, silicious sand. 



The richness or fertility of the soil in niiniTal ingredients for agricultural 

 purposes depends upon, and is in pro[)orti()n to, the supply of those chemical 

 elements existing in its derivative rocks, which are found in the ashes of ])lants. 

 These are as follows : 



