HiS 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



May 28, 1831. 



NOTES ON MICHIGAN. 



(Concluded from page 159.) 

 In ornithology, the species, whether of the 

 air, or on the wafer, are rich and varied. The 

 winter in the region about Lake Snperior, is 

 stern indeed ; the thermometer being often ai 

 the freezing point of mercury (38) — and near 

 iy all the winter below zero. During winter, 

 the white Parlrige, the great WLite Owl, and 

 the Canada Jay. are driven from the region 

 rdund Hudson's Buy to the Lakes. All these 

 birds bave feathers on their legs. The Wild 

 Turkey inhabits the southern part of Michi- 

 gan. There are several kinds of duck; one 

 .species fly into the rapids near the upper end. 

 and sail down the waves to the lower end of 

 the rapids.and from thence return to theplaoe 

 from whence they started, and sail down as 

 before. In 1814, a small bird of peculiarly 

 beautiful plumage, appeared, singing at eve 

 nttjg, which was named the Grossbeak. When 

 it is recollected, that Lake Huron contains 

 more than a thousand islands, and Lake Supe 

 fior one as large as the state of Connecticut, 

 — and 1500 miles ol uninhabited borders; these 

 island forests and forests on the shore, musl 

 contain species of hardy birds and otherfowl 

 not yet known or attempted by any ornitholo 

 gist. 



'' Ichthyology has scarcely extended its 

 researches into this quarter. Yet it must 

 be evident, upon a slight examination, that 

 the northern waters present an interesting 

 theatre of" observation. The great chain 

 of lakes, stretching across sixteen degrees 

 of longitude, and embracing fourteen de- 

 grees of latitude, present in themselves,an 

 area, compared to which, the lakes of the 

 old world are diminutive. But it is an a- 

 rett which nearly excludes those fishes who 

 thrive best in warm and turbid waters, or 

 attain their least perfection in those that 

 are cold and transparent. And we attach 

 more importance, in the distribution of 

 species by nature, to these principles, than 

 to any physical impossibility of communi- 

 cation between the lakes and south-west- 

 ern rivers. Some inquirers, more curi- 

 ous, perhaps, than wise, have attempted, 

 partially, a new distribution, but without 

 die sligthest evidences of success. The 

 eel has, for instance, been taken from the 

 foot of Niagara Falls to the river above, 

 and in a manner, apparently, to ensure 

 success to the experiment ; yet nobody 

 has observed that eels havo become pro- 

 ducts of the lake waters ; although such 

 streams as the Tonawanta and Maumee, 

 would seem to be favorable to their re- 

 production. And were there not some- 

 thing ungenial in the waters themselves, it 

 appears difficult to conclude that such ex- 

 periments would not meet with success. — 

 IVe have it on good authority, that eels 

 have been occasionally taken in Chicago 

 reek, an inlet of Lake Michigan, but 

 ihey have not been found in Lake Michi- 

 gan itself. Lamprey eels exist in the 

 lakes. And we have oliserved the gar, a 

 species of the Amia, (Shig-wum-aig) here- 

 tofore found only in the rivers of Georgia. 

 Both these varieties have been noticed in 

 those expansions of the channel denomi- 

 nated lakes, in the straits of St. Mary. 

 " : But the most important of our lake 



fishes, considered in reference to its value 

 in commerce, is the white fish. This is 

 found to inhabit the lake waters, in the 

 whole extent of the series, at least above 

 Niagara Falls. It is more particularly 

 taken in the straits of St. Clair, and in 

 those of St. Mary's and Michilimackinac. 

 And the quantity put up, during the last 

 season, (ly.!0) has been estimated at 8,000 

 barrels, valued at $40,000. It is not only 

 found in our Mediterranean lakes, but al- 

 so, in the small lakes situated at the sour' 

 ces of the Mississippi, which have their 

 outlets into that stream. It is thus difiu 

 sed over the northern hemisphere, at least 

 from the latitude of Peca-ga-mah, the up- 

 permost falls of the Mississippi, to the 

 head waters of the St. Croix and Chippe- 

 wa rivers. But it has not been known to 

 descend those rivers into the Mississippi ; 

 nor has an individual of the species been 

 ! observed in the Mississippi, even where 

 its waters are the clearest. No physical 

 obstruction exists for their passage out of 

 these tributary streams ; and it is difficult 

 ty conceive any reason for this exclusive 

 occupation of these upper waters, without 

 referring to a law of nature, which has 

 dapted their habits, both of migration and 

 subsistence, particularly to these small 

 lake waters. And it appears manifest 

 that with respect to these Missisippian 

 lakes, the range of their migration must be 

 very limited, and their winter abode confi- 

 ned." 



We feel a strong interest in the growth and 

 prosperity of Michigan ; inasmuch as it will 

 be virtually only an extension of our own 

 stale. Michigan is settled principally will: 

 New Englauders and New Yorkers. The 

 spirit of her laws will be like ours ; and every 

 surplus article of produce from her fertile 

 fields, will pay a slight tax to our canals. 



There are large tracts of Michigan lands, 

 now about to be sold by the Government ; 

 aud from their excellent quality and cheap 

 rates, they are certainly lempling to tbe Yan 

 kees, even to those who are only possessed of 

 a small sum of money. With a daily line of 

 steam boats from Buffalo to Detroit, the two 

 places are brought wilhin a little mure than a 

 day's journey of each other. It is true, the 

 population of Michigan is not as great as ve 

 anlicipated ; this, however, admits of expla 

 nation. In all new couDtrios, tbe population 

 is unsettled — constantly moving. The census 

 was began in June last: then, perhaps, five 

 thousand individuals were actually locating 

 their lands; in the fall they moved on, — and 

 their families will generally average from Gv. 

 to ten. We have no doubl, but that Micbi 

 gan contains at this moment population suffi- 

 cient for a state, were a census faithfully ta- 

 ken 



The atlaction to Michigan is on account 

 of the goodness and cheapness of (he soil; 

 and, although they may not have a ready for 

 ign market, yet while the territory is filling 

 up, a home market is produced in every set- 

 ilcmcnt 



In expressing our friendship for this Dew 

 and promising country, we bespeak emigrants 

 to give a paising notice to western New fork 

 Tbe unsold lands in the state west of Seneca 

 Lake, belonging to various companies and to 

 individual land holders, has been estimated at 

 one million acres; now, supposing one third 



oi it to be at present unsaleable, there will 

 remain between siz and seven hundred thous- 

 and acres, which will support a great emigrant 

 population. These lands can be obtained at 

 from 3 to $5 per acre; and where is a more 

 desirable location for a market ? In the dis- 

 trict of which we are now sptaking, there are 

 more than 50 villages, which create a market 

 for fruit and horticultural products equal to 

 that of any other country. This is a consid- 

 erable item in a thrifty farmer's surplus. Here 

 also, can be obtained the luxuries which in a 

 great many instances have become the neces- 

 saries of life, on very reasonable terms. We 

 have no doubt, bnl that a farmer can obtain 

 such family stores as he may desire, at our 

 own village, upon as good terms, if net better, 

 than be could procure the same in the city of 

 New York, The millers loo, at this place, 

 pay nearly as high for wheat as the great pro- 

 duce brokers do at New Yoi k. 



Where then can be a more favorable loca- 

 tion for farmers of tbe better class, than iD 

 Western New York 



RENSSELAER CO. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETT 



A meeting of the committee of this soci- 

 ety was held at the Rensselaer House in 

 Troy, on the 10th of May instant. Several 

 early productions of the kitchen garden were 

 exhibited. We gather the following partic- 

 ulars from the Troy Sentinel. 



Mr. Alexander Walsh, of Lansingburgh, 

 brought six very fine stalks of celery and 

 lettuce, which had been preserved in the o- 

 pen ground through the winter, and are now 

 flourishing vigorously. 



Mr. David C. Norton, of the same town, 

 presented six full grown cucumbers, of two 

 varieties. Some of the long kind were nine 

 inches in length. Mr. Norton also present- 

 ed two bunches of good sized radishes, rais- 

 ed in the open ground. 



Mi. Gerritt Peebles, of the same place, un 

 common fine lettuce, from the open ground. 



A great variety of beautiful and splendid 

 flowers were exhibited. 



Mr. G. B. Warren, of Troy, exhibited 

 several varieties of tulips, large double hy- 

 acinths, moss pinks and violets. 



Mr. Gerritt Peebles, of Lansingburgh, el- 

 egant narcissuses, snow-flawe and grape hy- 

 acinths, and several beautiful varieties of po- 

 lyanthus. 



Mr. Alexander Walsh, of Lansingburgh, 

 a thumb aloe, in fall bloom, two varieties of 

 periwinkle, a variety of fine hyacinths and 

 tulips, ragged robin, and other flowers in full 

 bloom. 



Mr. John T. McCoun, of Troy, exhibited 

 fine hyacinths, tulips, and narcissuses. 



Mr. Albert P. Hart, of Troy, a superb 

 collection of tulips and other flowers in full 

 bloom. — — 



We understand, says a Philadelphia pa- 

 per, that the late race of the " Bonnets of 

 Blue" and " Goliah," at New York, caus- 

 ed a large sum of money to change pock- 

 ets — twenty thousand dollars comes to a 

 single individual in Philadelphia, 



The Greenfield Gazette states, that Mr. 

 Amos Russell, of Deerfield, killed, March, 

 1st, five pigs, a few days less then a year 

 old, which weighed when dressed, 285, 

 310, 331 . 358 and 352 lbs ; making in the 

 whole] 1931, and including rough (at, 1703, 

 He has since killed another pig 13-1-2 

 months old, which weighed, 496 lbs. and 

 inclnding rough fat, 518 lbs. ' m 



