208 RURAL MICHIGAN 



butternut grows freely and yields profusely. The 

 Thirteenth Census (1909) gave the output of nuts 

 of all kinds in Michigan at 961,137 pounds. Coun- 

 ties with relatively large outputs were Allegan, Clin- 

 ton, Ionia, Iosco, Lapeer, Oakland, St. Joseph, and 

 Wayne, all of which exceeded 40,000 pounds. Oak- 

 land led with 75,917 pounds, followed by Calhoun 

 with 07,435 pounds. In the Upper Peninsula only 

 Chippewa County made any visible showing with its 

 paltry 100 pounds (possibly beechnuts) although the 

 situation in Delta County adjacent to Big Bay de 

 Nocque would seem to have warranted high expecta- 

 tions in relation to butternuts. The chestnut is not 

 common in Michigan and seems to be at home only 

 in the southeastern counties, and its artificial plan- 

 tation was undertaken some years ago by the Lake 

 Shore and Michigan Southern Railway along its 

 right-of-way north of Adrian. Sporadic attempts 

 at the introduction of nut-bearing trees have occurred 

 in Michigan, looking to the addition of the filbert, 

 the almond, the pecan and the Persian and Japanese 

 walnuts to the native nut-trees. The results are 

 understood not to have been greatly encouraging.^ 

 State law has made provisions for the planting of 

 nut-bearing trees along the highways and the legis- 

 lature of 1919 laid such a duty on the broad shoulders 

 of the State Highway Commissioner. - Interest in 

 the commercial growing of nuts has led to the or- 

 ganization of the Northern Nut Growers Association 



^Michigan Farmer, Sept. 25, 1920, 367. 

 =*?. A. 36-1919. 



