A GLIMPSE AT MICHIGAN HOETICULTUEE. 87 



commercial growers in the State. At Lawton and Paw Paw, upon high lands, 

 peaches and grapes are grown of especially fine quality. The growers here seek 

 out markets a long way off and frequently ship the tender fruits to points in 

 northern Minnesota and Dakota. The fruit-growers here were among the first 

 in the State to note the special adaptability of elevated lands to i'ruit culture. 

 They acted upon this knowledge and have reaped a rich reward. Cheap lands 

 in good locations are still attainable at these points, but are being rapidly 

 picked up. 



The harbor at South Haven is an excellent one and daily boats run to Chi- 

 cago during the fruit-shipping season. 



ALLEGAN". 



Allegan is the western county in the third tier. In the shore townships 

 peaches are grown extensively, although it is a recent occupation with the in- 

 habitants. They found their location to be a peculiarly good one and have been 

 developing it rapidly. There are above 4,000 acres closely planted to fruit along 

 t]ie shore in this county, and although most of the orchards are young, still 

 last year (1880) 800,000 baskets of peaches were exported and above 13,000 

 barrels of apples. Ten thousand ])ackages of small fruits were sold the same 

 season. People who have confidence in the locality and who are thrifty and 

 observing, have settled here and are making this region one vast orchard. 



In eastern Allegan two railroads cross from north to south giving excellent 

 shipping facilities. Peaches are grown upon the hights successfully, and at 

 Plainwell is centered a large strawberry interest. From this point immense 

 quantities are shipped to the great markets. 



» INGHAM. 



In this county are situated the State Capitol and the Agricultural College, 

 and around these gather a class of inhabitants that ttike delight in the pleas- 

 ures of horticulture. Lansing is destined to be a beautiful city. Tree planting 

 and the embellishment of homes as evidences of the employment of horticultu- 

 ral knowledge interest the dwellers here. At the Agricultural College exten- 

 sive experiments are performed which are calculated to interest the people of 

 the entire State in a knowledge of methods in horticulture and the scientific 

 information upon which they are based. 



OAKLAND AND MACOMB. 



In these counties are situated some of the oldest apple orchards in the State. 

 The people of these counties can get up a creditable apple exhibit at almost 

 any season of any year. A large apple orchard is the accompaniment of every 

 farm, and it is usually made a very profitable accessory. 



OTTAWA AND MUSKEGON. 



These counties border Lake Michigan in its widest part, and each has an 

 excellent port. From Grand Haven, in Ottawa county, there is a daily line of 

 beautiful steamers to both Chicago and Milwaukee, the best fruit markets in 

 the west, and the distributing markets for a vast interior. Opening into Grand 

 River, and forming an unrivable harbor, is Spring Lake, a sheet of water of 

 rare beauty, and along the banks of which are located scares of fruit farms, 

 each one having its dock from which the shipments for each day can be picked 

 up. The soil about western Ottawa is sandy, but is not devoid of fertility, and 



