The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-01-08
Prospects for Farms In Northern
ga Michigan.

ands of farmers in the southern portion
of the state who are anxious to try their
fortunes in the new sections can well af-
ford to first investigate the possibilities
of their own state before they emigrate
into the west or northwest for new lands.
! have spent portion of fourwintersin
northern Michigan, doing state institute
work, and have thus trayersed consid-
cradle areas, and in fact have been in
nearly every county Of the northern
part of the southern peninsula, besides
occasionally going across the straits,
said P. B. Reynolds, one of the Michi-
gan State Farmers Institute force, in
an interview with representative of
the Drovers Journal.
. 'T have seen some most excellent
farming lands throughout northern
Michigan, and, again, have seen some
very poor land. However. l believe"
continued Mr. Reynolds, that the gen.
eral possibilities of that portion of the
state are better than they are generally
supposed to be. have seen some very
excellent farming lands there. The
northern portion of this state is handi-
capped on account of streaks of very
poor land; but, on the other hand, there
are sections where the best sort of farm
ing lands can be secured. All that is
necessary is for the prospective settler
to look about him and know he has a
good thing before he buys.
II have been surprised at some of the
results that farmers are obtaining in
some portions of Pressure Isle, Alpena,
Montmorency and some sections of i'm
mediately adjoining counties. Much of
this is beech, maple and elm land. The
soil seems to be rich sandy loam. Be-
meath in some sections is a heavy clay
subsoil, and in others very deep clay
loam Farmers there grow good crops
of hay, oats, wheat, corn, peas. barley,
potatoes and roots. Hay is the most
popular crop, apparently, because there
is ready market. Both spring and
winter wheat is grown, but my observa-
ton has been that spring wheat does the
best. Peas are also popular. l have
come in contact with hundreds of farm
ers who are growing peas under con-
tract system, with apparent satisfaction.
Roots are very popular with some farm
ers The conditions in this part of the
state are such that find a marked SEN
timent in favor of the sugar beet, but
as yet factories for working up the
grown products have not been largely
built
I'm this region l have been surprised
to find corn growing to such degree OF
perfection. Recently 1 came in contact
with one prominent farmer in Presque
Isle who told me that this year he had
raised corn than went 100 bushels to the
acre. In other sections of the north l
have found farmers who had grown
corn this season twelve feet high, but
had not always been able to bring it to
maturity.
1.-THE possibilities of the northern part
of Michigan as producing coun-
try depend largely upon the future OF
the corn crop upon which to fatten the
stock and get it ready for markets
From the fact that corn is already being
grown in some northern counties is
evidence to me that there is every reason
to be hopeful for corn. | believe how
ever, in great measure success in
growing corn there depends upon
gradually acclimating seed until it will
ripen quickly enough for the shorter
season. Professor Leo M. Geismar of
the northern Michigan branch expert
ment station believes that it is only
matter of time when this can be brought
about by careful selection and breeding
of seed corn In view of the marked
success that farm corn breeders in ILL
Sois have made in improving their corn
v;ef>Ss and changing the chemical nature
of their ~c2rn I see great future for
specially bred corn in northern Michi-
gan. The state experiment. station can
do great work here and can be- aSly as
sisted by the farmers of this section OF
the state.
yssThere is an excellent opportunity in
northern Michigan for live stock. The
feeding season is practically but little
longer than in large portion of the
southern part of the state. Farmers
who are contemplating going there
should plan the use of good pure-bred
blood in grading up their stock. My
observation has led me to believe that
they should use either straight beef or
dairy blood. Let them make up their
minds which and then stand by it.
There is good opportunity to locate
farms for dairying. l have come in
contact with farmers Iwho are making
butter and realizing twenty-five cents a
pound for what they produce. OF
cdukse it is understood by this that they
are producing good article.
professionally / have come upon
farmer who has taken up some cheap