DIGEST OP STATE REPORTS. 403 



• • * Surely no State east of the Rocky Mountains has Buch an extended area 

 tnited to the production of first-class apples, and with our nearness to non-producing 

 regions giving us tbe best of markets, aud with our adaptation to tlie production of 

 the other staple fruits of tbe temperate clime, we are not behind. We are surely 

 fayored beyond the adjoining States. 



A catalogue of " popular and valuable varieties of fruits, compiled 

 from the best authorities" — having respect to the climate of Michigan — 

 is given. 



At the February meeting held at Lansing, Mr. Emmons Buell read a 

 short essay on fruit-growing. He advises top-graft winter varieties on 

 Northern Spy trees two to three years old. He regards the Eed Can- 

 ada, in tree and fruit, as approaching more nearly all the requisite qual 

 ities desired in a winter apple of any on the Michigan list. He says : 



The tree is hardy, a fair grower, and in style of top all that can be desired. In fruit 

 it is a good bearer, a good handler, and keeps well; in quality unexceptionable, while 

 its bright red color makes it very attractive, as the high price it brings in market fully 

 attests. But if you must add the Baldwin, Wagener, King, &c., do not fail to put 

 them on Spy stocks. Give tbe ground good cultivation in the early part of the sea- 

 son, and wash the trees with soft soap about the 1st of June for a number of years. 



As to profits in Michigan, Mr. Buell says : 



An orchard will contain about 50 trees to an acre. I think they may be safely esti- 

 mated to produce one barrel per tree for a great number of years, or while in good con- 

 dition. Tbis would give 50 barrels per acre for each year, and at .|2 per barrel would 

 be $100 per acre. I think a good orchard, with care, and composed of the best varie- 

 ties, will exceed, rather than fall short, of these estimate?. 



Mr. William L. Webber, in an essay on "The destiny of Northern 

 Michigan," says : 



An erroneous idea is entertained by many concerning the character of the soil on 

 which the pine is found. In most cases the pine grows intermixed with hard wood, or 

 in clumps surrounded by beech and maple, sometimes found in belts interspersed with 

 other timber ; but even where pine is almost the only timber upon the ground, it has 

 been found that the soil is capable of producing excellent returns to the agriculturist. 

 It is true the pine stumps are an incumbrance and somewhat difficult of removal, but 

 time and labor will remove them ; and as the soil is capable of producing good crops, 

 the time will come when as good returns will be had from land once covered with heavy 

 pine as from the average lands covered with hard wood. 



Of the extent of these lands and of the advantages likely to accrue 

 to the people of the State from the unlimited amount of lumber they 

 will yield, Mr. Webber says : 



In considering the future of the agricultural interests of the northern half of this 

 peninsula, the fact that a largo portion of it is covered with valuable timber is not to 

 be lost sight of. Of pine alone there is probably sufficient to make 50,000,000,000 feet 

 of lumber. Tbe wealth of the State will be promoted by handling this immense quan- 

 tity only 80 fast as the timber may be required at remunerative rates, and erecting and 

 operating such manufactories as will fit it for the consumer's use before transportation, 

 so that Michigan may receive the full benefit of its native wealth ; and that policy 

 which should cut this timber and force it upon the market faster than demanded, or 

 which should send it in a coarse and unfinished condition into other States for the finer 

 manipulations, would be an unwise one. Properly treated, the lumbering interest and 

 the agricultural interest should go baud in hand aud support each other. A home mar- 

 ket is always more valuable to the agriculturist than a foreign one, aud the lumbering 

 which goes on in tbe immediate vicinity will not only furnish a market for the surplus 

 products of the farmer, but also employment for himself and bis teams when their 

 services may not be required upon tbe farm, and at remunerative prices. Growing, as 

 the pine does, in belts aud groups intermingled with hard timber, probably two-thirds 

 of the space may be reclaimed for agricultural purposes without material injury to the 

 pine timber. 



In speaking of the advantages of Michigan as they relate to agri- 

 culture, manufactures, and commerce, the writer says that, aside from 

 its long lake-coast line aud from its navigable rivers, the construction 

 of railroads has added largely to its commercial facilities. In 1854 the 



