The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-11-14
PENINSULA POSSIBILITIES
Leo NJ Geismer Contributes: A Paper
on Agricultural Outlook in the
UP

on Agricultural Outlook IN the
UP.
Leo Nj. Geismar, of the upper pen
insula experimental station at Chtham
has an article in the November issue
OF the Gateway, on THE Marquette
Range and Westward, = it being dis
cussion of agriculture in the upper
peninsula and fail planting, as follows
Perhaps / can dilate with more
authority in regard to the agricultural
lands of this portion Of the upper pen
insula from the fact that / was one OF
the pioneer farmers in that region and
lived there nearly eight years after
the d. $. S. & A r. r. Co. began to
develop it.
Roughly speaking, the western por-
ton consists Of the Ontonagon and
Sturgeon valleys, the vast territory
being bounded by the Marquette and
Gogebic Ranges, the Wisconsin state
line and Lake Superior, embracing the
entire copper range. In its topography
it is # gently rolling surface, ex-
tremely well watered by countless
small streams emptying into the
branches of the main rivers. The
numerous falls along the many streams
afford an unlimited water power,
which may well be considered as one
of the main factors in future agricul-
tural development.
Its varied soils offer manifold OPP
portunities for the specialist as well as
general farmer. Not wishing to enter
into detailed description Of its soils,
it may be sufficient TO state that re-
ference to the State Geological records
will show that the rocks from which
these soils were originally formed
weather down into clay usually
calcareous and containing large per
cent of phosphorus, soda and iron.
Out-cropping near the Lake Superior
shores and along some branches OF the
Ontonagon and other streams, as well
as underlying vast portion of this
territory, is found sandstone con
tanning a high percentage of feldspar,
amounting in some cases to one-third
of the rock, according to DR.. Lane,
the state Geologist. This, together
with the large amount of mica yielded
everywhere by the granite rocks fur
nishes an enormous and exhaustless
supply Of potash to the sandy soils.
The soil Of the eastern portion OF
this region varies FROM a sandy to a
clay loan, the latter constituting the
suhsoil nearly everywhere. Here and
at attitudes of 700 to 900 feet, the
fruit grower may be reasonably certain
OF success. Even upon the lighter
sand soils near Kitchi, saw straw
berries rasied some years ago single
specimens of which would I'LL au or
binary wineglass. From there west ~
far as Bruces Crossing. and passing
through Trout Greek and Paynesvills
is a richly wooded region highly ad
apted for diversified farming. Nea
Trout Creek DR.. Glider s. Carroll
and G. p Hughes are plainly de
monstrsting the great possibilities
this region by successfully raisin
some ine qualities OF tobacco an
many Of the half hardy fruits, such q
green cages and tender varities
pears.
Around Paynesville. and especial
near Bruce's Crossing, J.. Hewlett
: Ed. Ryan. Lee, A. I. Simpson, AL
few others, have several years pa
shattered the popular fallacy that co
cannot be successfully raised in &
"a upper peninsula, for both the flint al
dent varieties which they are raisi
OF will favorably compare with simil
T. varieties grown in any Of the Weste
he states.
re Continuing west and passing throu
of Even and Matcwood the clay 3
mt predominates, and the fires Of form
he years have greatly simplihed
d. question Of land clearing for the futr
us farmer. a. they similarly have in
he neighborhood OF Sidnaw, further ea
he Here is unquestionably one OF
,al greatest opportunities in the Unit
Estates for successful stock raising ei
on or Tor market or breeding purpos
I'm To see the voluntary grasses uF
a lso-rro~ ioo<ri,u roads rrow In 4 hat