The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1910-02-11
FAME OF The APPLE RETURNS
TO THE STATE OF MICHIGAN

that the real wealth of fruit culture
has been realized and it has been
demonstrated by the thrift and energy
of the farmer that grains and vege-
tables, adaptable to the soil and eli
mate, can be produced at as great a
profit as in the much-lauded great
west.
Strikingly interesting is the fact
that the so-called sand barrens of the
middle and northern portion of the
state are lending themselves with a
deal of adaptability to the growth Of
the apple and the return Of Michi-
gan's fame.
Thought Him Crazy.
One interesting matter came to
light last fall relative 10 the growth of
fruit on what was supposed to have
been the barren soil of the pine lands
of the state.
A few years ago, Henry Ward, Pom
tiac's eccentric millionaire, began the
planting of what lie declared would
be 20,000-acre apple orchard on the
pine barrens, six miles from the viii
lage of Frederic. He had succeeded
in getting about 1000 acres planted
with healthy young trees when an APP
plication was made to have him ad.
judged insane
Witnesses from that section had de-
CARED positively and solemnly that
any man who would try to grow ap-
Pies on the barrens was bug" But
Ward was right, after ALL last sea-
sons crop from those 1000 acres of
apple trees was sold-on the trees
for $4,000.
And not only did the Ward estate
receive fancy price for its crop OF
apples but fruit from this and nearby
orchards took the first prize at the
state fair in Detroit last fall, and re-
ceived more complimentary comment
at the Chicago exhibit of agricultural
ard horticultural resources of the
northern central states than that from
any other section OF the country rep
resented
Regarded as Worthless.
For years the pine barrens of Craw-
ford and other northern counties were
regarded as worthless, except as hunt.
ing grounds. And there was many a
SUBSTANTIAL, hard-headed citizen who
really believed that an attempt to
farm or raise fruit on the wastes was
indeed insane. But Henry Ward had
other ideas. and he was willing to
spend at least part of HIS fortune
in proving them.
He met with many difficulties. Many
OF the trees first set out died from
lack of moisture and the severe win
ters, and much money was spent in
getting the orchard in condition where
it would bring returns on the capital
invested. But he persevered, and now
the fruits OF his labor are materializ-
ing. Meantime. Ward is in retreat.
The courts original decision was later
modified.
For this sand country, once COW
cred by pine forests and for years
considered practically worthless. new
uses are yearly being found The
agricultural department in Washing
ton has recently been experimenting
with view OF demonstrating the
BURBERRY, quite abundantIy found on
these sandy stretches. In his last an
nuaI report. Secretary OF Agriculture
Wilson has this to say on the subject:
Demonstrating BIueberry.
Experiments in the cultivation of
the blueberry have been continued. A
report on these experiments, now in
preparation, will contain the detailed
information needed by private expert
I0enters to enable them to handle
these peculiar plants with success. The
failure OF the experiments with blue
berries at some Of the agricultural ex-
pertinent stations has been due chiefly
to the fact that it was attempted to
grow these plants in the ordinary fer
tile garden sell suited to other small
fruits. From the experiments now
made It appears that the BURBERRY
not only prefers an acid soil but will
not thrive in any other than an rcd
coil Tn fbo cNoiooot t,,,o 90 ,a-s-,,f