The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-04-20
GOING in FOR e.
fruit GROWING
FARMERS OF UPPER PENINSULA
HAVE PURCHASED MANY
THOUSANDS OF TREES
THIS SPRING.

A recent brief investigation among
the agents for nursery concerns re-
veals the interesting fact that this
spring many thousands OF fruit trees
have been purchased by upper PENN
sula farmers On all sections of the
district and that this year will sec the
most extensive planting of orchards in
the history of this region. one nurs-
cry salesman reports sale of 5000
trees and il is known that similar sue
cess has been achieved in all of the
counties north of the straits this year.
The reason for this sudden spread of
horticulture is found In the remarka-
forts of those upper peninsula farmers
who six and eight years ago started
orchards and carefully cared for them
since. The returns are wonderful. the
yield being phenomenal and the fruit
OF the highest quality and most de-
licious flavor Chippewa county apples
last year captured first honors at the
state fair. thus showing the superiority
of northern grown fruit.
Horticulturists who have given the
subject study confidently expect to sec
the upper peninsula as famous for its
apples as is western New York to-
day.
In this connection the experience OF
Magnus Nelson, one of the pioneer
fruit growers of the upper peninsula
is interesting.
In 1872 Mr.. Nelson purchased 40
acres of land from the Chicago &
Northwestern railroad and allowed
himself to be talked into planting a
few apple trees by a smooth tongued
agent. The farmer felt sure that ap-
pie trees would not grow in this elm
ate but the agent insisted that he had
trees that were iron clad and that
could not be killed by a sledge ham
mer. Mr.. Nelson bought so trees. and.
although they failed to make good ev-
erything the agent claimed for them,
they proved the point that apple trees
would grow in the upper peninsula of
Michigan.
When he planted his first trees Mr.
Nelson knew nothing about apples. He
was poor and he watched his expert
ments with interest because on them
depended his daily bread He contin-
ued to plant apple trees, each year with
better success, and made a study of
them and the conditions under which
they thrived.
Selecting his trees with care and de-
voting the closest attention to the de-
tails of their cultivation, he reached
the climax of his success as an apple
grower, one year, when he planted six
hundred trees, out of which he lost
only one. -.
From that time his position as a
successful apple grower was assured
and he is today not only the, foremost
apple expert in the upper peninsula,
but one of the most prosperous and
progressive farmers i'm the state.
To- Mr.. Nelson belongs the distnc-
ton of opening the eyes of lower
Michigan people to the splendid quail
ty of apples grown above the straits.
One year he was lgppointed a delegate
to the Farmers Institute at Grand
Rapids. A display of apples had been
advertised for this occasion and al
though he had not many to select from
as it was in February. he picked out
the best he had and carried about a
peck with him.
When he arrived at the exhibition
hall in Grand Rapids he found apples
on display from the best fruit belts of
lower Michigan. He asked those in
charge of the exhibit IL they consid-
cred the apples good and they said
they would like to see anyone beat IL.
Well" Mr.. Nelson replied. these
are all No. 2; now let me show you
some No. l apples" and he uncovered
the fruit grown in the upper peninsula.
The apples made good his boast and
were a surprise and a revelation to
the people of lower Michigan. Mr..
Nelson says that he was proud to
prove that the upper peninsula could
produce something besides politicians.
and to carry home premiums on his
apples won in open competition with
the far famed orchards of the fruit
baltv