CROZIER ON TENDENCIES IN HORTICULTURE. 35 



ent time is northward, and there are fortunately in northern Michigan, in 

 both Upper and Lower Peninsulas, abundant supplies of land suitable 

 for horticultural purposes. 



It is probable that the culture of the peach and grape have nearly 

 reached their northern limit, but there is reason to believe that through- 

 out almost the entire Northern Peninsula, many varieties of apple, plum, 

 cherry, and small fruits may be grown to great perfection, to supply not 

 only the growing mar-kets in that section of the country, but also to pro- 

 long the season of supply for more southern markets. 



The limestone formation which prevails about the Straits of Mackinac 

 seems particularly well adapted to the cultivation of many of the finer 

 fruits. Kemains of numerous Indian apple orchards, some of them still 

 in bearing condition, may be found throughout this region. Wild fruits 

 of various species grow here in great profusion. Huckleberries in large 

 quantities are annually shipped from Cheboygan and neighboring ports, 

 and other wild berries which grow there in equal abundance might also 

 find a market if they possessed equally good shipping qualities. I have 

 seen wild blackberries of the finest flavor brought into market at Petoskey 

 by the Indians as late as November, but too soft and too carelessly han- 

 dled to bear distant transportation. 



The red raspberry {Rubus .strigosus) grows and bears abundantly in all 

 this region but the fruit is shipped away only for the purpose of making 

 brandy. The essential hardiness of this species is indicated by the fact 

 that upon the north shores of Lake Superior, where the timber has been 

 swept away by forest fires, there mny be seen thousands of acres covered 

 with it. There would appear to be no reason therefore why cultivated 

 varieties of the red raspberry having suitable markeft qualities might not 

 be successfully grown throughout the whole of northern Michigan. 



Plums also are being grown with success in some parts of the Upper 

 Peninsula, where wild plums of excellent quality are occasionally found. 

 Northern Michigan is particularly adapted to the growth of plums by 

 reason of the absence of the rot which is often disastrous to this fruit in 

 warmer climates. The curculio and black knot are also thus far less de- 

 structive there than farther south. For these reasons plum growing in 

 that region is likely to see greater development. 



Of the peculiar adA^antages of Michigan for the pursuit of horticulture 

 we are doubtless well convinced, but success depends mainly on the 

 adaptation of the different crops to the required soil and location — and no 

 state has these conditions in greater variety than our own. Tbe last 

 edition of the Michigan fruit catalogue shows that varieties which are 

 considered valuable in one locality are not always grown with success in 

 other localities, often but a short distance away. Thus, such thin-skinned 

 peaches as Mountain Kose and Old Mixon, which are favorites in the moist 

 climate of the Lake Shore, cannot be grown successfully in the peach 

 growing regions of the interior of the state which have a drier climate. 

 The vigorous Late Crawford, which often fails to bear well on the Lake 

 Shore is much more productive, and a favorite market variety inland 

 wherever it proves sufficiently hardy. The slow-growing Hill's Chili, on 

 the other hand, which in the dry interior points fails to bring its heavy 

 load of fruit to perfection, gives entire satisfaction in western Michigan. 

 It is frequently the same with other fruits and with vegetables. The Tay- 



