360 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



with the history of fruit growing from the time the early settlers planted the 

 seeds brought with them from their former homes, has seen these small begin- 

 ners increase steadily from year to year, until the amount of fruit grown and 

 shipped is now almost beyond our comprehension. Almost every farm has 

 an orchard, small fruit garden, or vineyard. Something of an idea may be 

 gathered from the report of the shipments of fruit from along the west part 

 of the state. 



The vast territory west of the Mississippi that is being settled upon and 

 improved for agricultural purposes, will soon treble the present number of 

 inhabitants, and within a life time will be the home of more people than the 

 entire population of the LFnited States now is; and each year will add to their 

 financial ability to purchase the vast amount of fruit which will be grown 

 within this State. He who would raise the cry of overproduction is evidently 

 near-sighted and can only see the condition of things within a limited space, 

 a very small part of this wonderfully great aud growing country. He should 

 go to Chicago, thence to St. Paul, and continue his journeyings west and 

 south, over that immense tract of prairie country, until he is almost lost in 

 amazement at the magnitude of the great northwest. After comprehending 

 something of what is to be — that this great tract will be covered with cities 

 and towns and the entire land densely populated as the eastern country now 

 is — then let him remember that over that great country, teeming with wealth 

 and agricultural productions, the merciless blizzard with icy hand annually 

 sweeps, rendering fruit growing so impossible that even the Russian ironclad 

 apple trees go down before its fury, refusing to yield fruit or blossoms. The 

 millions who are to inhabit that country will grow rich out of the agricultural 

 products adapted to the soil and climate there. Does it seem reasonable that 

 the limited area upon which fruit can be profitably grown will produce such 

 vast amounts as to more than supply the millions of the northwest, until it 

 shall be a drug upon the market? The probability is that millions of people 

 there will long for the luscious fruit which they cannot buy. 



I am often asked what kind of fruit will pay the best in this part of the 

 State. It is well to remember that the larger part of the fruit to be sold in 

 the future must necessarily be shipped long distances to reach the markets 

 of the far west. The apple is probably one of the fruits that can be shipped 

 to the extent of this western land. The apple is king of fruits and can be 

 converted into more kinds of food than any other. The chances are that 

 there will be more money made from apples than any other kind of fruit 

 grown in Michigan. It is a universal favorite with the people. Its con- 

 sumption is only limited by the supply and the ability of the people to buy, 

 both of which will increase as the years go by. Where we now have one acre 

 planted to apples, twenty acres will be needed to meet the demand. 

 He who will plant an apple orchard of good varieties and leave 

 it to his boy, will leave him something that will be a source 

 of revenue for a lifetime. There is also a growing demand for 

 American apples in Europe. [Statistics to prove this were read.] 

 I have more faith in the apple orchards of Michigan than I have in any 

 other orchard Iruit. Pears may also be grown with success, and if of the 

 right varieties and handled properly, they can be shipped long distances and 

 usually bring good prices. While the apple is a staple production for food, 

 the pear is a luxury and may be dispensed with. Where peaches can be 

 grown to advantage they are very profitable, and sell for fabulous prices 



