704 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Jem with them is to find a forage crop for their stock that can be turned 

 into a fertilizer later on, and many of them are now experimenting with 

 crimson clover and cow-peas. 



Some of the finest and heaviest timber that Michigan has had has been 

 cut in this fruit-belt region. And, as you ride along and see the acres 

 of stump land with heavy stumps showing magnificent growths of timber, 

 you gradually reach the conclusion that this drift soil must have in it, 

 coupled with climatic situation, a growth of tree life that is deceiving. In 

 fact it may be laid down as a rule that any section that would grow large 

 timber will raise plenty of fruit, provided the climatic situation is favor- 

 able. 



Another singular thing is that the growth of vegetation is from ten 

 to twenty days longer in this fruit belt section than in the rest of Mich- 

 igan: That is, there is less danger from late frost in the spring, or early 

 frost in the fall. I do not say thev do not have these late frosts and early 

 frosts, but the chances are more in favor of the former in this section if 

 any come. 



With this section having limitations as to acreage, width, and length, 

 and raising so many kinds of fruit, and vegetable products as this does, 

 the careful farmer who knows his business can make more money in it 

 than on richer soils in the interior of the country where there is not such 

 a favorable climatic situation. 



There orchards appear to do better on hilly lands where they face the 

 north. The hilly orchards have what they call air drainage, and facing 

 to the North they do not come out in blossom so early in the spring as 

 where they face the South, or any other direction, which helps to avoid 

 late frosts in the spring. 



In conclusion, this strip of land along the shore of Lake Michigan is 

 highly favored as to climatic situations for orchard and fruit growing. 

 And the facility for shipping by boats to large cities like Milwaukee and 

 Chicago with connections out of these towns, cannot help, but take care 

 of the large amount of fruit. The main problem is to so adjust the com- 

 ing forward of this fruit that it does not complete with Southern fruit 

 coming to these cities. Therefore all kinds of fruit and berries in this 

 fruit section should be of later varieties. 



