Western. Micltiffati — A. J^arored I^ruit Region. 53 



Western Michigan— A Favored Fruit Region. 



T a meeting of the Michigan State Pomological Society, not long since, Mr. J. S. 

 Linderman, of South Haven, presented a most valuable and interesting paper upon 

 the climatic influence of large bodies of water, and the peculiar adaptability of the 

 country bordering the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, for the production of fruit, 

 especially the peach. Mr Linderman's observation upon peach growing, and the 

 indications of the thermometer east and west of Lake Michigan, are of no ordinary 

 interest. He says , 



" It is now a well understood fact that but very few, if any, inland localities in 

 this latitude can produce this fruit with sufficient certainty to warrant its extensive 

 cultivation. The interior of New York formerly produced it in abundance and with 

 tolerable certainty. Now but a few favored localities produce it to any extent. So 

 of the interior of Ohio, Indiana and this State. There is no lack of soil adapted to 

 the growth of the peach in nearly every township of all the States named ; but it is 

 very susceptible to atmospheric changes. It succeeds perhaps in fewer localities 

 than any other fruit grown to any extent in this latitude. 



On the east shore of our great equalizer, Lake Michigan, we have a climate and 

 soil peculiarly adapted to fruits, particularly the peach. Experience has proved, and 

 the record shows, that at South Haven we are subject to a less degree of cold in 

 winter and heat in summer than perhaps any other locality in this latitude, east of 

 the Rocky Mountains. I think very few are aware of the diiFerence in temperature 

 in different localities on the lake shore ; also the difference on the lake shore and in 

 the interior. I have taken quite an interest in this subject for a few years, and will 

 give you some comparisons, the better to illustrate this part of my subject. 



Five years ago last winter it was from 17 to 22 degrees below zero in the interior; 

 the coldest at our place, just zero. 



December 25, 1870, at St. Joseph it was eight to nine degrees below zero; just 

 zero at South Haven. 



December 22, 1871, reported by Mr. Brown, President of Si. Joseph Fruit 

 Growers' Association, at 13 degrees below zero ; by Hon. John Whittlesey at 15 

 degrees below; at Coloma, 18 degrees below; at South Haven, six observations 

 varied from one to five degrees below. Five was the lowest I heard mentioned ; that 

 was my record. 



February 5th, last, at Kalamazoo, it was 16 degrees below zero; 15 to 18 at St. 

 Joseph, and from two to five below at our place. For three winters before the last 

 it has been below zero but twice. 



To arrive at a correct idea of the protection our lake affords us, we must compare 

 our record with that west of the lake. 



Beloit, Wis., is on a line directly west of our place, sixty miles from the west shore 

 of our lake. February 11th, last, at evening, it was 38 degrees above zero ; the next 

 morning six degrees below, making a change of 44 degrees in one night. At our 

 place the record was as follows : February 11th, evening, 36 degrees above zero, two 

 degrees cooler than at Beloit at the same time. Morning of the 12th, with a stiff 

 west wind, 34 degrees above zero, making 40 degrees warmer than Beloit, but blowing 



