The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-06-17

cate,-that the soil of the whole state is of
the same origin; II contains, from wherever
obtained, the same ingredients, differing in
the proportions only for every. variety The
analysis does not serve to indicate any more
than other facts would, whether the soil was
taken from the southern counties or the
northern. All the facts go 10 show that there
are equally good soils in all parts of the state,
as there are also equally poor. The light
sands To be found in places in the north are
duplicated in the older counties; and the rich
clay loans which have proved to be SO pro-
ductivein southern counties are alike found
in the north, with every indication of possess
ing an equal fertility. No better soil need
be sought for than exists, in abundance, in the
upper peninsula; -strong, rich loans, such as
make the farmers heart rejoice with gladness
and fill his barns with increase and plenty.
Michigan has gyeat diversity of soil. and,
for the latitude, an equable climate. lt is
adapted to the production of a great variety
of crops. No state possesses greater diversity
in either of these particulars. The changes
in soil are not confined to particular localities.
Clay soils of all degrees of tenacity,-tim-
Der soils, of all kinds-light sands that are
poor,-sands with good subsoil or that have
been mechanically triturated to a great de-
best,-rich bottom lands or swamps, are
found in all parts of the state alike, in every
county. township, aud in nearly every section.
Almost every farmer has a great diversity of
soil on his farm, adapted to variety of crops.
He has exactly the conditions for pursuing
the best kind of farming-a mixed husband
ry.
Every part of the state-every variety of
soil produces the best of wheat and all other
farm crops. The Michigan prairies, unlike
those Of Illinois, yield their annual crops of
wheat now as regularly and bounteously as
they did when the virgin sod was turned:
but the rich, heavy loans of the middle and
northern counties are proving TO be the ones
best adapted to this cereal. The desires of
all for any kind OF soil can be satisfied in
i'll any part of the state-from the quick.
warm soil to the heavy loan.
The entire state, from the waters of Lake
Huron to those of Michigan from the once
disputed border on the south to the Straits
of Maczinac; from these charming waters to
the border of the great lake, is a region for
successful agriculture, where all the products
most esteemed in the markets of the world
may be raised in abundance.
All the state is now accessible, since rail
roads traverse both peninsulas i'll all direc-
counties, where is every convenience of the
most advanced civilization; or in the north
ern borders where is equally good soil, cheap
lands abundance of timber and rapidly de
veloping region.
The upper peninsula may almost be des-
ignated as the parent of the lower, for it
is of the debris of the rocks of that northern
region that its soil is largely composed.
Everywhere through the drift of the lower
peninsula. in the soil and near the surface.
are found the fragments from the lodges and
rocky hills of the north--pebbles, boulders
and masses of granite,-sandstoue schist,
diorite,' Jasper, trap, conglomerate, etc. etc.
every variety and kind which abound in the
far north, has its innumerable representation
in the drift of lower Michigan. And the
comminuted and disintegrated particles of
these primitive rocks, together with the ruins
of the later rocks of lower Michigan form
the basis of that soil which makes such va
ried and ample return for all the labor of the
husbandman.
MARL.
In every part of the state. in many swamps
are found beds of mari underlying the muck.
These are of so common occurrence that de-
posts of mari are accessible in almost every
neighborhood. and III an early day. in the
older couDties, the material was burned in
kilns for the manufacture of "quick lime.
and sometimes a very good article of lime was
thus afforded. have also known it used as
fertilizer, to be drawn out in the winter and
mixed with the muck and spread upon the
land with excellent effect to succeeding crops.
This mari is we'll known to farmers and ditch
diggers; it is easily distinguished by its yell
lowish white color and also commonly con-
tains many minute shells.
DR.. Il. C. Kedzie of the Agricultural Col
lege has recently published paper on this
material. making many practically useful
suggestions respecting its use, and also Civ
ing analyses from samples obtained from diff
ferent counties in the state. These analyses
| regard of SO much value that insert them