<>98 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the rats and mice that may be in the bin. After twenty-four hours the 

 bins should be thoroughly aired and the grain shoveled over if neces- 

 sary. 



All this work should be performed in the day time, away from fire and 

 lamps, for the gas is very explosive. Care should be taken as well not 

 to breathe the gas any more than is necessary for it is as poisonous to 

 us as to the insects. The work, to accomplish good results and to be 

 safe, must be done quickly and carefully to guard against danger and 

 loss of the liquid. 



THE FAMOUS FRUIT BELT REGION ALONG LAKE MICHIGAN'S 



EAST SHORE. 



BY L. N. KEATING. 



Says C. Hart Merriani, Chief of the Biological Survey of the United 

 States, "The Biological Survey claims to define and map the natural 

 agricultural belts of the country to ascertain what products of the soil 

 can and cannot be successfully grown in each district. The farmers of 

 the United States spend vast sums of money in trying to find out whether 

 a particular fruit, vegetable or crop will thrive in localities where it has 

 not been tested. The cause of their failure in the great majority of 

 cases is climatic unfitness. The quantity, distribution or inter-relation 

 of heat and moisture may be at fault. What the farmer wants to 

 know is how to tell in advance whether the climatic conditions of his 

 farm are fit or unfit for the particular fruit or crop he has in view. From 

 a study of the geographical distribution of native animals and plants, it 

 has been learned that the United States may be divided into seven 

 belts or zones with a number of minor areas, each of which is adapted to 

 the particular associations of animal and vegetable life; that is, the 

 distribution of native animals may be co-ordinate with the sucessful 

 distribution of cultivated crops or fruits. All of the climatic or live 

 zones of the world except the humid tropical are represented in this 

 country. The study of the products of distant lands will result in the 

 further discovery of fruits and vegetables which can be introduced into 

 this country in the proper zones. ? ' 



This Biological Department issued, in 1807, a map showing these live 

 zones, so-called, of the United States. The dotted parts of this map in- 

 dicate the humid divisions of these zones. For example, rainy portions 

 of New York, Pennsylvania and the shore portions of New England 

 are the same as all of the lower peninsula of Michigan, excepting the 

 narrow strip along the east shore of Lake Michigan, known as the Fruit 

 Belt Region; and this narrow strip is the same as to humidity as Illinois, 

 Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, parts of Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and 

 North Carolina, thus showing as to moisture the lower peninsula of 

 Michigan is divided into two sections. As to humidity, this fruit belt 

 region appears to be a tongue of land, extending along the east shore 

 of Lake Michigan. Its width is dependent upon location and how far 

 the shore line is exended west into Lake Michigan. The territory along 

 the shores of Lake Superior resembles the Dominion of Canada as to 

 humidity. There are climatic reasons growing out of the proximity of 



