The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-08-25
Horticulture: Past, Present and Fu-
fure.

This is large subject when viewed
in all of its different stages of devel-
opment, but only those parts will be
taken up, briefly at this time, which
relate to fruit growing in western
Michigan and this immediate vicin-
ity.
In looking over the past, what does
it not contain in the way of successes,
of failures, of hopes and of discour-
agements TO those who chose fruit
growing as their line of work. Unlike
grains and many other kinds of crops
grown or produced from the soil, fruit,
at least much of il, is most perish
able. 1t must be harvested to-day
and marketed tomorrow or it is a
total loss. 1t is all risk from the
time the plant or tree is planted until
the money is in the pocket, and yet
countless numbers are willing TO take
the risk and have taken the risk and
have come out victorious i'll a fight
which one must make if one grows
fruit to-day and in the past as well.
Hardy fruits such as the apple, pear,
plum and cherry have been grown
since the early settlements III the
state, and much more attention was
paid to these fruits than 10 the peach,
which is tender in bud and tree, or to
the small fruits, which have been
largely developed in later years.
Not so many years ago, for the de-
velopment Of the fruit industry in
western Michigan has been phenom-
email, it was found that the peach,
luscious fruit, but tender in bud and
tree. would thrive and bear annual
crops Of fruit along the shores Of
Lake Michigan, while in other parts
Of the state the crop was uncertain
and the trees winter killed. There is
no question but that the discovery
that the influence Of Lake Michigan
on the atmospheric conditions during
the winter months is favorable for
the tender peach buds has been the
hinge upon which this great fruit belt
has developed. IF we had no Lake
Michigan, we would have no fruit
belt. I speak of the peach particular
~, as it is first in Importance and
acreage.
The oldest points where commercial
peach growing was first taken up are
at St. Joseph, Saugatuck and South
Haven and at that time there were no
southern markets 70 compete with and
the fruit brought fabulous prices.
We can imagine the effect Of these
high prices and enormous profits per
acre upon the people in these vicin-
tiles. The price of land began to go
toward the clouds, forests were clear
ed away and orchards were planted.
Pathological societies were organ
lied so that growers could come to-
gether and get the benefit of each
others successes or failures in fruit
culture. With the development Of the
peach industry came the working in
and growing of other kinds of fruits,
but the pride of the people Of western
Michigan was its peaches.
The development of varieties began
and the prospect was surely bright,
but alas, we read in histories of black
Fridays. The black Friday for the
peach grower had come in what l am
told was first supposed TO be new
peach, which ripened two or three
weeks ahead of anything yet known.
Into those fine orchards had crept the
disease known afterwards as peach
yellows. Agitation became rife.
What were they 70 do with it? Some
were for cutting out and burning, but
others would not have their fine or
chards hewed down in this way. The
ground was fought over, meetings
were called, investigating committees
were appointed and after some years
legislation was brought 70 bear upon
il and state - were enacted to con-
troll the discs , but 1t had IN the
meantime s,.y * over the whole peach
belt, laying waste the fine orchards,
running some and driving others out
of the business or into other lines of
fruit growing, and the rapid develop
ment of other kinds of fruit growing
is probably due TO the ravages Of the
peach yellows.
However, a remedy had been found
for this disease in the axe and with
that indomitable courage which char
acterizes all enthusiasts, and especial-
ly those who are horticultural enthu-
siasts. knowing the ideal conditions
for growing the peach were unchang-
ed and that they had a good thing,
the subject was agitated, the more
optimistic began planting and soon
others were induced 70 follow their
example. The fruit crops were more
diversified and it was found that the
peach could be grown farther inland
than the people on the lake shore sup
posed they could. Then the area be-