, 1863-08-21
ST, JOSEPH FRUIT ORCHARDS.
Unprecedented Peach Crop.


Ihe ancient Tillace Of st. Joseph, in Be11aer
county, Michigan, has assumed ncn impor
tnrce within the past few years, owing to she
notoriety established for the adjacent country
| as a ffuit-growipg region This village was
settled By the French long before Chicago
had an existence, and about the same time
Detroit WINS settled. For many years, the
Hight sandy soil thcreabouts was considered
worthlcss, and remained unentered and un-
improved in the hands Of the Government.
When the discovery was made, few years
ago that both the soil and climate was pecu-
Harly favorable to the production Of fruit,
lard near the town was sought with ar1dity,
and now commands good price. Bsrrien
county Is generally heavily timbered, and
large quantities Of square cut timber, railroad
tiea and ttaye timber arc being drawn from
these forests to the Paw Paw river, RATED
down to the harbor, and thence shipped to
Chicago. The upper soil Ia composed of that
loose drifting sand so common on the south
and east sides Of the Lake, and underlaid by .
stiff blue clay at depth varying from few
inches to many feet. The land on the south
and west sides Of the st. Joseph river gener-
ally 1ecedes little In elevation from the lake
and springs, In some instances rising only q
few feet from the lake bluff, Aow east to the
river, and thence to the lake. The soil as 1t
recedcs from the Like and town, in many pla-
ces, is quite des 1tute Of sand, the clay crop
ping out to the surface, forming hard aud
ungenia1 sol. The surface is cut up consid-
erably by deep rarines, generally running
from east to west, and opening Into the low
land aud marshes that border the two rivers
and spread ont In fields of thousands Of acres,
now covered with n 1uxuriant growth of wild
rice. The best fruit orchards are within two
or three miles Of the lake, and it is owing
principally to the influence of the moist lake
winds that heavy frosts arc Kept away, rem
dering total failure Of the fruit crop Of rare
occurrence.
To give some idea Of the extent Of the feuit.
growing business, we will enumerate few of
the orchards visited in day's drive.
Dr.. L. Collins has very neatly arranged,
well cultivated fruit orchard, contalng . 900
fruit trees, which wore set ont three years
ago last spring, embracing all kinds Of fruit,
and seren-acre vineyard OF isabella aud c..
tawbas, which will yield him from eight to
ten tons Of grspes. Three years ago Last De-
cember he brought fifty trees from Ohio In q
trunk, and set them out. This year he will
gather upwards Of one hundred bushels Of
peaches from them. He has also some of tile
finest apples VIC have anywhere seen.
Mr.. Powc1l's trees are principally Hale's
Early, set out two years ago last spring. Some
ttat were planted only one year ago last
spring, now hang full Of delicious fruit! As
q contrast, there are peach trees in the neigh.
borhood that are thirty years old, and have
bornea crop nearly every year, which this
year arc broken down beneath the extrao1dln-
ary yield.
E&H. c. Morton have an orchard embra
cling !, 100 trees, where will be found every Va.
ziety Of fruit trees. each yielding most bounti-
fully. The great attraction In this vicinity Is
Morton's wine cellar, where he exhibits his
hospitality, his fruits and apple-wine, with a
generous hand This firm also OWL tho ''Cin.
clnnnu Peach Orchard' in the vicinity, EN-
bracipg about seventy acres, now leased to
other parties.
G.K Hopkins has m orchard embracing
about 4,o00 peach and 800 pear trees, all in
prime order.
But, of all that VIC visited, taking the loca.
ton, extent, varieties, and culture into con-
sideration, the orchard and grounds of Mr..
Geo. Parme1ee have probably no equal. Mr.,
P. settled upon this farm sixteen years ago,
and has devoted his energies to bringing his
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