The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-01-08

sion of all others, but am of the impress
sion that farmers will be the best pleas
ed with the medium wool mutton sheep.
Grazing conditions are not materially
different from what they are in the
southern part of the state, while; all Of
the necessary feed can be readily grown
for carrying them through the winter.
/ have found the conditions for raising
sheep in northern Michigan not far be-
hind those in the older counties to the
south. RlHjn ~" tei"
''Of course there are some poor lands
in northern Michigan For instance.
through sections of Altoona, Oscoda,
Ogemaw, lRoscommon and Crawford
counties there is what rs called the
plain land. III The soil seems to be
largely sand, with scant covering Of
wild grass. What timber there was
upon the land has been largely cut
away. The wild grass makes excellent
pasture both fall and spring. When the
winter snow comes on the grass it is
covered until spring, when the. snow
goes off and leaves it in frst-class cured
condition for the stock to feed upon un-
til the grass comes. have found farm
ers who prize this early pasturing very
highly, and with most excellent reason.
Nothing in my farmers institute
work in the northern counties of this
state has surprised me more, continued
Mr.. Reynolds, than the fine quality of
fruit that is produced there. OF course
the larger part of Michigan along the
lake shore is noted for its fruit, but still
it is surprising what superior apples and
hardy peaches and plums are annually
grown in Alpena, Montmorency, Pres
que Isle. Otsego and neighboring
counties. The quality of the fruit is
excellent and the coloring is the finest l
have ever seen. Northern Michigan
has an excellent climate for fruit rails
ing, besides the region seems to be en-
tirely clear of the insects and parasites
state and other fruit sections.
II believe in the next few years there
is going to be some marked evidences of
progress in this vast section. Up to the
present time farmers there have been
engaged in clearing off the timber
rather than farming; but this is being
largely done away with. Farmers are
soon going to be forced to give their I'M
divided attention to farming. This,
believe, will mark new era in both the
northern of the southern peninsula and
in many good farming sections across
the straits. This is one of the reasons
why believe that young men who
want land and are not afraid of some
hardship can get an excellent start in
these northern counties by carefully
selecting their lands and going at their
farming and farm improvements sys-
tematically. This is no country for
shirks, but there is every reason for sue
cess for energetic, persevering young
men.
81 have frequently come onto men
who took upland here twenty five years
ago from the government who are now
possessors of farms that are easily worth
$25, $35 and $40 an acre. These men
selected land originally that was fertile,
well located and within reasonable dis
to,oa of ,o;IrooJ 20 c;1;t;aa
In the matter of highways 1 have
been both surprised and pleased. Unjust
say some of these counties, particularly
Alpena and Chippewa, are ahead OF any
in the southern part of the state Much
of the work is under county commits
sioner; who is engaged in building first
class county roads. These are being
built up with frequent coverings of
crushed stone and provides excellent
roads to market. Farmers themselves
are interested in building leaders to these
thoroughfares. The whole shows mark
ed progress, is great benefit to the
residents and settlement in that part of
northern Michigan, and will soon insure
a complete rural mail delivery.
''In some sections I have been highly
elated in the success of farmers insti-
tute work. Occasionally the time of
the meeting is made holiday, and
farmers turn out en- masse, and frequent
ly come distance of twenty or twenty
five miles to attend. During four years
work here l can see some promising inn
provements A great deal of credit for
this is due to the former superintendent,
Professor G.. d. Smith and the present
head of the state institute force. Pro-
lessor L. r. Taft, who..is now energeti,
cally pushing the institute work in this
portion of the state and securing some
very promising results. .~royro.q n
II do not care to assume the response
bility," said Mr.. Reynolds, in concluding
his observations on the courties Of
northern Mich igan, 'of urging al
young men to make an immediate dash
for this comparatively new country, but
/ am thoroughly convinced that those