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STATE HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



drainage. This section is an old settled farming country in which all ordinary 

 fruits do well. The inhabitants are cultured, and farmers' clubs, horticultural 

 and agricultural societies flourish there; it is a region of pleasant homes. 



ST. JOSEPH AND CASS. 



This is the region of large farms, and horticulture is only an accompaniment 

 of farm life, although in Cass county are several extensive orchards which are 

 made very profitable. Notably one farm, that of B. Gr. Buell, of Little Prairie 

 Eonde, produces the finest Northern Spy and Eed Canada apples that go into 

 the Chicago market. 



BEKRIEN. 



A correspondent who is thoroughly acquainted with Berrien county remarks 

 that "Nature evidently intended this region for a great fruit garden to supply 

 the luxuries of the palate to the denizens of the western prairies." In this 

 county dwell the pioneers of our commercial fruit growing, and here have been 

 grown, within the last quarter century, peaches, pears, and small fruits that 

 would rival any that have been placed in the world's markets. All that is 

 needed is a proper label and the famous fruits of California can be obtained in 

 Berrien county. Apricots, nectarines and figs are grown here, as well as the 

 soft shelled almond. The growing of the tender raspberries and blackberries 

 has long been a specialty here. Three thousand acres of strawberries are now 

 in bearing. Chicago is the great market, but the surplus in times of a flush is 

 readily Avorked up by canning and drying establishments which are at hand. 

 An extensive cranberry interest is now building up upon the low lands about 

 Stevensville which promises, on account of the safety from frosts, to rival any 

 plantation in the west. 



Berrien county is the southwest county in the State, has over 40 miles of 

 lake coast, and aside from its admirable location has a variety of good land that 

 can be purchased at fair prices. 



A few statistics from past and recent shipments may indicate, better than 

 anything else, the magnitude of the fruit interest in this county. The follow- 

 ing tables were compiled by Mr. Merchant, of the St. Joseph Herald: 



