DIGEST OF STATE KEPORT.S. 481 



to their having been propagated on tender roots. He makes this 

 statement, which is worthy of consideration : 



Tho fact tliat the pear on tlie quince is a failure throughout the West, where the 

 pear has not thrown out roots of its own, is a significant fact, and goes to show tho 

 necessity of hardy roots, no less than hardy tops to our trees; and those nursery-men 

 of tho open prairie country of tho West and Northwest who first recognize the im- 

 portance of a perfectly hardy stock, and that will intelligently set themselves to work 

 to supply this great desideratum, though at a present disadvantage, perhaps, from the 

 competition of cheap trees, will ultimately reap a just reward, antl at the same time 

 prove themselves public benefactors. 



In regard to the variety of apple best adapted to the region of Mich- 

 igan, Mr. Hathaway very strongly recommends the Spy. He has 

 thirteen trees of this kind that were planted at one year old, about 

 two feet high. They stood thirteen years, and had not borne a bushel 

 to the tree, when they yielded an average of 10 bushels, or more. He 

 has found trees of four years' growth safer to transplant than those of 

 two years, under the same circumstances. The wood is more firm, and 

 there is more substance of both roots and top to withstand the vicissi- 

 tudes incident to the transplanting. 



There is a valuable paper from the pen of the late Sanford Howard, 

 on the principles of form required to adapt the horse to special purposes ; 

 noticing breeds, &c. A special conclusion of Mr. Howard was that, "in 

 general, and especially for racers, roadsters, and draught-horses, it is 

 better to keep the varieties distinct, breeding each in reference to an 

 ideal or standard, combining the points which, according to mechanical 

 l)rinciples and practical observation, denote the highest adaptation to 

 their dtfferent purposes. If experiments are made in crossing diflereut 

 breeds, they should be made with caution, and in such a manner as not 

 to hazard a loss of the valuable properties already possessed by a 

 breed." 



Mr. J. E. Day, referring to the cultivated acreage of the State in 1870, 

 and the agricultural i^roducts accruing, and calling attention to the fact 

 that the average production is lower than that of the eastern states, 

 iind of all the middle states save one, draws two inferences — that 

 the shallowculture of the West does not bring up the average with the 

 more thorough management of the East; and that, if Western farmers 

 AYOuld raise their average value of crops, or even hold their own, they 

 must discard their own methods and adopt tliose of the East, culti- 

 vating less land but more thoroughly. There Avere 4,G52,500 domestic 

 animals in the State, worth $60,oi3,008, and one year's crop was worth 

 as much as all the animals in the State, lacking $7,381,968. The highest 

 value of any crop was that of tobacco, $190 per acre. Number of acres 

 so employed, 2,695. Mr. Day tliinks that the fruit yield of tho State 

 Avill soon be as large as that of any other State — especially of apples, 

 to the cultivation of which the climate and soil seem peculiarly.adapted. 

 He says: 



Upon our western coast, land, which until a few years past has been thought to bo 

 worthless for all purposes of agriculture, now sells' at from ^^OO to $600 per acre for 

 tlio purpose of raising peaches and email fruits. Within the radius of three miles ot 

 the village of Fruitport, there have been GO.OOO peach-trees set out during the last four 

 years, and other fruits in proportion. * * * The soil is of that character known as 

 sand-barrens. 



The report proper closes with a full account of the proceedings of n 

 coiivention held in Chicago, Illinois, August 24 and 25, 1871, convened 

 chiefly through the efforts of AY. C. Elagg, of tho Illinois Industrial 

 University, and Dr. M. Miles, professor of agriculture in the Michigan 

 Agricultural College, the object being the consideration of the experi- 

 31 A 



