Fruit in Michigan

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 22, 1872

Fruit in Michigan.

One well posted in the Western fruit business states as the result of an inspection tour through what is called the fruit growing region of Western Michigan, that the number of fruit trees and grape-vines now growing is as follows: Peach trees, 900,000; pear trees, 140,000; plum trees, 30,000; cherry trees, 25,000; apple trees, 170,000; quince trees, 10,000; grapevines, 180,000. There are also a great many acres devoted to the culture of different kinds of berries. At the present time it is estimated that there are 630 acres of strawberries, 600 acres of blackberries and 900 acres of raspberries under cultivation. Land in the fruit district is worth to the farmers from $250 to $900 per acre. This season the peach crop was smaller than usual in some sections.

The amount of fruit raised in Muskegon County will be much larger this year than at any previous season. Over 1,200 bushels of peaches alone have been raised by Mrs. Fowler at Black Lake. It is safe to put the peach crop of this county for 1872 at about 18,000 bushels.

Mr. B. Moulton will pick and sell at the least 30 tons of grapes from his vineyard, on the north side of Muskegon Lake, this year. The quantity of grapes raised in this county this season is estimated at 160 tons. Other fruits have turned out as well, and the prospect is of a constantly increasing crop every season.—Muskegon News.