FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT. 53 



Fruit is a perishable product and should be handled carefully. 



While it is probably better to get a good soil, some distance from 

 the shipping point than to take a very poor soil close to the shipping 

 station, it is always a serious question to haul fruit, especially the 

 tender kinds as peaches and plums, for long distances and over hard 

 roads. For the very tender fruits as berries, it cannot be done at all. 



There are in Michigan some very successful growers who have to 

 haul the products of their fruit farms long distances, eight, ten, twelve, 

 fifteen and even twenty miles and even under this handicap, make money 

 but this hauling expense is always with them and always cuts into 

 the profits seriously. 



There is not a successful orchard in Michigan or anywhere that is 

 located on low, wet soil and observations in a large number of Michi- 

 gan orchards always confirms the principle that it is high lands that 

 are the best for fruit growing. This does not mean an immense hill 

 but land that is higher than the surrounding territory. The reason 

 why this is so desirable is quite apparent on a moments thought. Fruit 

 trees cannot stand a great amount of cold. Cold air alwavs settles in 

 low places. Furthermore, frosts during April and May are quite com- 

 mon and about this time of the year, the fruit trees are in bloom. The 

 frosts at that time will destroy very many or all blossoms and thereby 

 ruin the crop for that year. On the high lands, these spring frosts are 

 not nearly as frequent nor as severe so the prospective orchardist 

 should give good heed to the elevation of the future fruit farm or that 

 part of the farm that is to be used for fruit growing. 



To plant orchards upon some of the low level land that is being offered 

 for sale in Michigan and recommended as good fruit land, is nothing 

 more than a waste of money because a profitable crop of fruit never 

 will be produced upon land of this kind. 



The more observation and study that is given to soils in connection 

 with fruit growing will be seen that fruit trees demand quite strong 

 soil. There is some difference in this regard, depending upon the differ- 

 ent kinds of fruits. Pour cherries will do well on quite light sandy soil 

 even if it has not a sub-soil. Peaches will do fairly well on comparative- 

 ly light soil but apples must have a good strong soil with a clay sub- 

 soil. While it is very true that all these kinds of trees will do well 

 on a great variety of soils and that there are orchards in Michigan that 

 are growing on poor soil and producing some fruit, yet to plant an 

 orchard that you expert will take care of you in your old days, you 

 must see that it is planted on good strong soil that would produce a 

 very large crop of oats or corn when it is well taken care of and fertil- 

 ized with a reasonable amount. The accompanying picture, figure one, 

 will give you an idea of an apple orchard planted on poor, light, sandy 

 soil without a clay sub soil. This orchard was planted in 1899 and is 

 therefore, thirteen years old and has been given good care all of that 

 time. The very poor growth has been made. The other picture, figure 

 two, sIioavs a tree seven years old planted on good strong soil and 

 given good care that has already commenced to bear profitable crops. 



To summarize, get first a good site as regards air drainage. Then 

 see that the soil is a good one that will produce good farm crops. Secure 

 it if possible near a good shipping point and on a good wagon road to 



