56 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



PROF, bailey's observations. 



The following with reference to the above subjects was contributed by 

 Prof. L. H. Bailey, jr., and was clipped from two articles which he wrote for 

 the Free Press: 



" While it is true that the characteristic plants of the plains are such as will not 

 awaken the interest of the casual observer, there are some remarkable exceptions to 

 this statement. Some of the plants are worthy of a conspicuous place in the flower 

 garden. The life root, or senecio of the plains, is very common in places, decking the 

 dull surface with masses of golden yellow. The yellow puccoon, two sorts, is also con- 

 spicuous and attractive. Much of the barren land, especially on the eastern side of the 

 state, produces great numbers of the large wake robin or trillium, a plant ordinarily 

 found in low and rich woods. The bird's-foot violet, the handsomest of the native 

 species, gives the ground a bluish cast in some places, its great flowers appearing to de- 

 light in the aridity of the plains. Upon the plains of Oscoda county beautiful wild 

 roses are abundant, the bushes sometimes attaining a hight of four or five feet and bear- 

 ing a profusion of large and bright flowers. A species of the New Jersey Tea often 

 whitens the slopes with its compact clusters. The occurrence of these i)lants cannot 

 fail to inspire the hope that other plants of economic value can be made to grow profit- 

 ably upon the plains. For the most part, however, these plants are such as delight in 

 the poorest sands. The experimenter should .seek rather to discover plants which natu- 

 rally thrive upon loose sand than to attempt to cultivate here the ordinary plants of the 

 farm and garden. 



The surface of the plains is diverse. It is mostly made up of a broad system of ter- 

 races which rise from the An Sable, Manistee, Muskegon, and other rivers. Adjoin- 

 ing the river is an alluvial soil, variable in width, but usually confined to a few rods. 

 From this rises a terrace of fifteen or thirty feet, leading to a level stretch of plain. 

 Above this is another terrace, often higher than the first, and above this still one or 

 two others. Tlie width of the intermediate stretches varies from a few rods to a mile 

 or more, until the h ght of land is reached beyond the valley. The valley of Au Sable 

 varies from three to five miles In width. The high lands to the rear of the last terrace 

 are often one or two hundred feec above the river bed. They are mostly undulating in 

 character, although in many places there are long stretches of perfectly level country. 

 Some of these stretches which have been recently burned and over which the low her- 

 bage has again gained a foothold, have the appearance of great pastures. One of these 

 openings, fully two miles long, was passed through. 



Throughout all the plains region there are occasional strips of hard land. The char- 

 acter of the plains soil itself is somewhat variable, some streaks of sand being much 

 more fertile than others. Much of the pine land appears to be no better than the 

 plams. It appears that a considerable part of the plains land is made such by the 

 action of fires, which prevent the trees from attaining a great size, for upon most of the 

 plains one finds young Norways starting up and it is rare that there are not unmistakable 

 evidences of fire having swept the country at one time or another. Before the plains 

 can be reclaimed to the farmer for purpose of forestry and grazing, there must be 

 devised some means of lessening fires. Under the present slovenly and careless system 

 of timbering there is little reason for hope in this direction. 



Westward from the Manistee the country assumes a different character. Better 

 land, more hardwood, and occasional and prosperous farms give an attractive appear- 

 ance to the country. The region is good farming land, the soil being sandy but abound- 

 ing in vegetable matter. The forests are exceedingly dense and green and under- 

 growth is luxuriant. The prevailing timber is hard maple, beech, elm, and hemlock, 

 just the admixture which indicates early and rich land. The swamps are filled with 

 cedar and spruce, some of the former attaining great size. 



The wild crabapple has not been found. It is usually observed that the culture of 

 the common varieties of apple do not extend much beyond the range of the wild crab; 

 but there is every reason to belieive that many of the verj'^ hardy varieties may be safely 

 planted here. The few trees now growing in the region appear to represent such 

 varieties largely, the Ben Davis being prominent. Yellow Transparent, Oldenburgh, 

 Whitney, 8eek-no-further, and the improved crabs are to be recommended for this 

 region The wild blackberry is everywhere abundant between the two lakes, growing 

 alike upon the plains and timbered lands. The wild red raspberry is frequent through- 

 out. The presence of these species is indication enough that the country possesses pos- 

 sibilities in omall fruit growing. It is commonly observed, however, that the cultivated 

 raspberry and blackberry are injured by cold while the wild bushes in the immediate 

 vicinity pass the winter in safety. The reasons for this are chiefly two. In the first 



