The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1903-10-31
HOpTl( \ ri T'
The MICHIGAN Fruit Station.

The Michigan experiment station /.
located at Agricultural College, nea
Lansing. 1t has branch at South
haven devoted entirely to experiment,
with fruit. The cause for the exist
ence OF this branch station are tn,
peculiar soil along the shores of Lak'
Michigan and climatic conditions quit
unlike other parts of the state. More
over this region is a famous fruit pro
duclng region, and experiments mad.
at Lansing would not be likely to an
ply fully to the so-called fruit belt
A representative of the Farmers Re
view last week visited this fruit sta
tlon and found it in most flourish
Ing condition. The officer in charge j:
Professor T. A. Farrand, who seems tt
understand the conditions of his ter
rltory most fully.
The station is somewhat limited fol
space and has at present only fiji
teen acres of land, all of which is il
use. The first paintings were made
IA years ago. The paucity of area has
compelled the crowding of some of the
trees beyond what we believe to be
ADVISABLE. Professor Farrand has
been compelled for this reason to sci
MS plants and trees nearer together
than he would if he had the room he
needs. 1t was noticeable that all the
SOIL was in high state of cultivation
the marks of the weeder teeth being
everywhere visible between the trees.
All the fruit trees are headed low.
The Professor says this is the onl5
sensible way of heading trees. The
apple, pear, plum and cherry trees
oranched just above the soil and one
would have difficulty in reaching thei1
trunks, because of the branches. We
did not notice high-headed tree on
the place.
Professor Farrand says that peach
and pear trees should be set at least
~ feet apart, though on their ground
they are but 16 feet apart. AS most
OF these trees are twelve years ole
their branches are already too close
in many instances. The apple and
pear trees are sprayed with Bordeaus
mixture on the formula $3.50, with
four ounces of Paris green added,
This is five pounds of lime, five
pounds of copper sulphate and so gal
Ions of water, besides the Paris greer
mentioned. For peaches they spra,
before the leaves are open for the
curl leaf, using two pounds of sulphate
and 50 gallons of water. After the
fruit is set they spray with half
strength Bordeaux mixture, or on the
formula $500, using no Paris green
However, Paris green could be used
if desired. Peaches are thinned tc
s and inches apart. This is a more
severe thinning than is followed in
many of our orchards, where the
breadth of the hand is used as the
rule for space between peaches.
The Professor recommends the
Longhurst peach as a very good one
The tree is hardy and very productive
but is not as handsome as the Al
berta. 1t is most excellent for can
ming. However the growers OF
peaches near South Haven are goinf
largely into Albertas. Kalamazoos and
Engle Mammoths are most excellent
varieties and are doing we'll on thu
station grounds. It is noted that the
early peaches are inferior in quality.
1t is the belief of the director tina,
apple trees should be set not less thar
80 feet apart. AS to the varieties do
ing the best on their grounds he men
tons Jonathan, Grimes Golden, Starl
and Yellow Transparent. Ben Davis
does not do we'll here, as it can no,
be grown to perfection. Apples OF
this variety do not color up so well
in this part Of Michigan as they dc
in southern Illinois and localities on
the same parallel. Duchess of Olden
berg is doing we'll. Wagner is doing
well, and nothing is better than
Wealthy. The Greening is hardy but
it is late in coming into bearing. Col
den russets bear better than Roxbury
russets, but the day of both of them
has gone by, says the director. Te
tovka, a Russian, bears heavily, bu
is a poor grower.
Among the pears Seckel was doing
remarkably well. The trees were
heavy with fruit and the size was
very much better than: is usual with
this variety. In fact. one seeing them
on the market would hardly believe
them to be Seckels. So much for
good care and culture. The Bartletts
are proving the best on the ground.
The Keiffer has come to stay. Ouch
ess is good late pear. Flemish
Beauty is regarded of little or no
value for general cultivation, as it
scabs badly, and the ordinary grower
will not spray it. When thoroughly
sprayed it is all right, as it is
heavy bearer.