Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-19
Peach and APple Orchards on the
shores Of EIake Michigan.

From the Grand Rapids (Mchigan) Eaglo.l
There is no longer any reason to doubt
that equally with st. Joseph, the whoiebelt
Of the lake shore country, from that point
at least as far north as Grand Traverse. is
the best grape ndpeach growing region in
the whole country north of the Ohio river
The climate is the most eGuable, and those
crops about as certain as are the crops OF
harder fruits in other portions OF the coun-
try. '' ...' ".' 90 .'l.'L7''' -''
A writer in the MlskegoR gews gives the
results Of a comparison of meteorological
records for the past few years, kept at
various points on that coast, with othe1
places, going even as far south as Atlanta
Ga. The severe frosts OF the summer oi
1864, which did extensive damage in the
central and southern portions OF the State,
were unknown at Grand Traverse. lsg .
During the extreme cold of January the
thermometer along that coast. only went
down to ~ degrees below zero, while 1t
was II degrees below as far south as ATTAIN
ia. On the 10th of February last when the
thermometer at st. Joseph and south of that
was down to lG degrees below zero, it was
only 2 degrees below at Muskegon. This
year, though reports from allother quar-
ters indicate that the peach buds are eXten-
sively killed, they are comparatively unin-
jured in this fruit-garden OF Michigan.
Nor is that all. Besides having more
equable temperature, there is another pc
cdliarity favorable to the growing of tender
fruits in this region. The trees and fruit
buds will bear harder freezing there, and
still survive, than in other localities. This
is because of the moisture trei2hted lake
breeZes, and lake iOgs, which prevent sud-
den thawing-having an effect like an ap-
plicatiOn OF snow 20 frozen fingers. which
all residents of cold climates are familiar
with. .l. u.. f. a.. . .
Taken in connection with the favorable
climate is another fact which has an i'm
portant bearing upon the prOfitableness OF
fruit culture The western slepe.nf Michi-
gan is not only free from competition on
account of climatic influences, but it has
ready and speedy access to the best Of fruit
markets. From all along the border fruit
freshly packer may be in Chicago or Mill
waukee in a hours after it is taken from the
tree, still perfect, unbruised and fresh.
This is great advantage, as every person
is aware how easily peaches and other tender
fruits are marred by land carriage. The
lake shore region is unsurpassed on that
account, for shipping ports dot the Whole
line all the way from the mouth OF the st
Joseph to Traverse City.
Peach gardens and orchards are coming
into bearing as far north as Mason county
and every year the demand for lands FOL
that purpose is increasing. About st. Jo-
seph lands that a few years ago were worth
only from 50 to 81 30 per acre are now held
at from 500 to $3.50 per acre, and with
fruit growing on them are worth from
$500 to $500 per acre. There seems to be
no question that q very large share OF tht
lanus from that place to Grand Traverse
destined to become the fruit garden o.
Michigan, and indeed of the whole west
1t has riches in embryo not second to those
of an oil paradise; though it is not impOs.
siblc from the developments now making
thnt tEn In r.nnIt hn nllnl