PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 165 



THE FUTURE OF PEACH-GROWING IN MICHIGAN. 

 BY HON. F. J. RUSSELI^ OF HART. 



My subject is one that calls for a stereoscopic view of the future of 

 peach-growiug in this state, as we shall see it and as it will be viewed by 

 those that shall come after us. 



As I understand the history of peach-growing, it has been the rule in 

 nearly all sections of which we have information that peaches are more 

 easily and purely grown in a newer country than in the same country as 

 it becomes older and more widely developed and improved. The reason 

 for that change may not be positively known, although two have been 

 often pointed to as those most likely to be the controlling elements — one 

 the fact that new and virgin soil may be more evenly balanced and a 

 more perfect home for the peach tree, than the same apparent soil w^ould 

 be after its long cultivation and cropping, when the elements constituting 

 a perfect soil may have been thrown out of balance by having been drawn 

 upon with too frequent potj^toes, corn, or other crops, without a replacing 

 of the elements most extracted ; or it may be from the fact that the would- 

 be careful farmer or fruitgrower has used fertilizing elements which were 

 out of place and were actually a damage to the producing of these particu- 

 lar fruit and tree elements. The second is the removal of the timber and 

 the elements of protection incident to a wooded country. There may be 

 many elements from this cause that would have an influence, some of 

 which may be referred to, as in a new, wood'ed country the snows are 

 deeper and more regular in winter, remain later in spring, the cold is 

 not so severe in the winter months, the heat is not so intense in summer, 

 a larger amount of moisture abounds and is likelj' to be more evenly 

 divided during the year and in series of years. The winds are less severe 

 and constant. We might refer to a third as one having more and more 

 influence as a country recedes from its virgin state, that of diseases and 

 the insect pests. These increase as certainly and regularly as cities grow 

 and the lines of railways extend. 



These are all elements that must be taken into consideration in making 

 a forecast of the future of peach-growing in Michigan, and there are many 

 other and important elements that will enter into the combination of 

 circumstances which shall determine the question here to be considered, 

 and one of those which may be considered as most jtrominent and far- 

 reaching is the one of transportation. It need not be expected that the 

 future of peach-growing in Michigan will be very much extended with 

 the present facilities and cost of transportation. Those must be improved 

 and the burden lightened to the grower, either by extending the territory 

 to be covered, improving the facilities at a more moderate expense, or 

 in some other manner. This is a matter that seems to be one of the 

 elements in the future of the peach interests of ^Michigan. 



It may not be out of place to consider this question from a sensible 

 and reasonable standpoint, as it may vvfev to this interest, and see if we 

 are able to determine what the probable result will be. 



