340 ANNUAL REPORT. 



Lake Michigan. Climatic influences, caused by the large body 

 of water on the north and west, with a great variety of soils and 

 facilities for cheap transportation, have, within the last twenty- 

 five years, developed commercial fruit growing interests of a 

 greater magnitude than in any other locality in the Northwest. 



''During the past two decades the production of the finer va- 

 rieties of Michigan fruits has not been commensurate with the 

 demand caused by the growth and expansion of the cities and 

 towns of the Northwest. 



" Large plantations of apples, alternating with peach trees, 

 were made by the early planters. As anticipated, the apple 

 has outlived the peach, leaving large apple orchards, which often 

 ■consist of varieties which are not profitable to grow upon soils, 

 and in a locality where peaches and the finer varieties of fruits 

 Tv^ill always be profitably grown. Our cheap taansportation fa- 

 cilities will, however, warrant the growing of the early and 

 beautiful varieties of aj^ples for the Chicago market. All of 

 the lower peninsula of Michigan is adapted to the perfect devel- 

 opment of the apple, and, with the eS:ception of occasional years, 

 of general, exceptional production, apple culture must continue 

 to be one of the leading and remunerative industries of the 

 State. The experience of recent seasons has proved that many 

 varieties, which were once popular, are becoming unreliable and 

 •worthless. 



"It is generally conceded that the most perfect fruits are 

 grown at the extreme northern limit of successful production. 

 During a long time commercial fruit growing in the Northwest 

 was confined to the St. Joseph region; but as the country north 

 of us contiguous to the lake shore has become developed, peach 

 growing has become more diversified, and Berrien County has 

 made a specialty of small fruit growing, while the old peach 

 orchards have decayed. 



"Grapes are extensively grown, nearly all our fruit growers 

 having small vineyards which aggregate several hundred acres 

 in the county. The Hartford, Concord, Delaware, Diana, and 

 Catawba are the principal varieties grown, but many new varie- 

 ties are being introduced, among which the Champion and Niag- 

 ara are the most j)romising for market. Mildew and rot prevail 

 some seasons in a few localities, but large crops are marketed 

 annually in Chicago, the prices ranging from three to ten cents 

 per pound. 



"With our location and soil and proximity to Chicago, and 



