The peculiarities of our more northern climate offer an added encouragement
for the growing of these last named fruits, in that region, in the very import-
ant fact that those long-keeping varieties rarely become over-mature, in autumn,
and hence go into the market Jater and in better condition than is usually the
case with even the same varieties grown further south.
With these small fruits generally, the northern half of the lower peninsula,
and (so far as can be inferred from the natural or indigenous growths of the
country) the entire upper peninsula possess peculiarities of climate which
peculiarly adapt them to their growth and profitable fruiting, so soon as the
requisite markets shall have been developed, or facilities supplied for conven-
iently reaching those already in existence.
The following are some of the advantages offered: So far as the plants are
concerned, winter so treads upon the heels of summer, that even the most ten-
der European raspberries (Rubus Ideus) become covered with snow before the
occurrence of temperatures at all dangerous to the plunt ; while the persistence
of the snow carries such protection nearly or quite through, till all danger from
cold in the spring is fully past. That such covering must be equally effective
for raspberries of all varieties, es well as for blackberries, currants, gooseberries,
and grapes, hardly need be remarked. it will be readily perceived that the
advantage of late ripening will apply to the small fruits with quite as much
force as in the case of the larger ones.
FREE TRADE IN HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
BY 0... W. G.
