66 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 



and bloom and tint, their exquisite odor, and their luscious 

 taste. 



But whilst frankly jiilinitting our inferiority to the tropical 

 climes in the particulars thus alluded to, we may readily ascer- 

 tain that we enjoy countervailing advantages incident to onr 

 position, and fully compensating us for the deprivation of those 

 exquisite though simple pleasures of taste. We may also have 

 fruits of our own planting, handling, and maturing, in great 

 abundance and variety, and fully adequate to supply our sub- 

 stantial wants, and at the same time both satisfy and gratify 

 the palate of the fastidious epicure. 



Whilst fruit-growing in Michigan, generally, may.. be pro- 

 nounced a success, yet we of the western portion of the State 

 shall not be deemed arrogant if we affirm that the pecular fruit 

 zone of the Northwest is limited to a belt of country ranging 

 in breadth from fifteen to forty miles, and stretching along the 

 eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Outside of this especial 

 region, however, various kinds of fruit may be grown and 

 matured in diflferent sections of our lower peninsula. The 

 various small fruits indigenous here, and even growing spon- 

 taneously, are the strawberry, the raspberry, the currant, the 

 gooseberry, the blue and whortleberry. You all recognize the 

 fruits. All these are susceptible of improvement by skillful 

 cultivation, and may be made a source of large profit as basket 

 fruits, as well as by conversion into jellies, wines, canned fruits, 

 etc. Of the large fruits growing on climbing vines and trees, 

 we have a large and increasing variety, many of them taking 

 as kindly to our soil and climate as if indigenous to this region. 



Through the economy of natural laws, as well as by our 

 judicious selection and training, our distinct varieties may be 

 again subdivided into classes. 



As general standard varieties we would designate apples, 

 pears, peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, quinces, Siberian 

 crab, cherries, and grapes. 



