EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 65 



To all appearances the southern peninsula of Michigan at this latitude is 

 moving eastward. The west shore is scarcely wasting away as fast as the 

 east shore is gaining by sands thrown out of Lake Huron. 



To return to the flora of the two opposite shores, I give the following list 

 of northern plants which were found on the east side of the state and not on 

 the west side: 



Swamp gooseberry, sheep laurel, swamp laurel, dragonhead, white spruce, 

 sparganium, four sedges, two moonworts. 



The following southern plants were found on the west side and not on the 

 east side: 



Silver maple, black raspberry, common elder, sassafraSj red elm, rock elm, 

 maidenhair fern. 



So far as the lists are extended they help sustain the prevailing notion that 

 the west side of the state has the milder climate. True, we have not studied 

 plants throughout the year nor have all localities been searched. Possibly 

 this, if complete, would be much modified. We might be able to see why silver 

 maple, sassafras, black raspberry, red elem, and rock elm thrive on the west 

 shore and not the east, but I am unable to see why the northern plants found 

 on the east shore should not also be found on the west shore. 



To some extent, the climate of the two shores of the southern peninsula 

 of Michigan may be contrasted in the same manner as the climate of Oregon 

 contrasts with that of Massachusetts. The difference on the two sides of the 

 state are much less than they are on the two sides of the much larger continent 

 bordered on the sides by broad oceans. 



ATTEACTIVENESS OF THE WEST SIDE. 



Many observations and numerous notes were made, among them the fol- 

 lowing: 



The resources are many: a healthful climate, good water, plenty of timber, 

 much excellent land and first-rate markets. The roads on the upland are usu- 

 ally good. For farming purposes, the land occupied by deciduous-leaved trees 

 or hard wood is usually preferred. 



Passing as we did through the centers of the counties of Alcona, Oscoda, 

 Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse and Benzie, we could not help thinking 

 that, with some exceptions, the west part of the state was better than the east 

 side, especially when we consider the raising of orchard fruits. In the vicinity 

 of Kingsley we saw many thrifty bearing apple orchards. Good land well 

 covered with hard wood can be bought from four to ten dollars per acre, 

 depending on the soil, timber, and location. 



Some of the land in eastern Kalkaska county has recently been stripped of 

 all the timber, which was mainly pine. Much of this can be had for a dollar 

 per acre and some of it goes back to the State for taxes. 



In watching the rapid flow of the Au Sable and the Manistee passing by the 

 plains which were thirsting for water, it often occurred to me, "why not turn 

 the waters on the fields and make them fertile, instead of using them to float logs 

 to the lakes?" A thing so easily done, I believe one day will be done, and 

 done with great profit, not likely by those owning small farms, but by those 

 owning land by townships and sections. If we could control the water on 

 these plains so they should not lack for it, we could grow good crops, and 

 with good crops the soil would rapidly improve in fertility. 



