Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/516

498 MICHIGAN give no account. Foster and Whitney ("Ex- ecutive Document No. 69," 31st congress, 1st session) give an interesting chapter on this subject. The climate of Michigan is one of extremes, but much tempered by the proximi- ty of the lakes. That of the southern penin- sula is comparatively mild, while that of the northern, especially in the winter season, is cold and rigorous. The mean annual tem- perature at Detroit (lat. 42 20', elevation 580 ft.) from 1836 to 1854 was 47'25; and at Fort Brady, near Sault Ste. Marie (lat. 46 30', ele- vation 600 ft.) from 1823 to 1854, 40'37. These results illustrate the isothermal condi- tions of the two peninsulas, the difference in annual heat being nearly 7 F. The mean distribution of the heat to the seasons in the same year was as follows : PLACES. Spring. Summer. Autumn. Winter. Detroit Fort Brady 45-89 87-60 67-60 62-01 48-67 48-54 26-84 18-81 At Detroit the greatest difference in the month- ly mean in any one year was 49-97 (21 '95 to 71-92), and at Fort Brady 57'81 (13-19 to 71). The average annual rainfall at the two places was 30'07 and 31*35 inches respectively, and in the seasons as follows: PLACES. Spring. Summer Autumn. Winter. Detroit 8'57 9'29 |7'41 4-8(5 Fort Brady 5'44 9'97 10'76 5'18 The mean annual temperature at Grand Haven (lat. 43 5', elevation 616 ft.) for the year end- ing Sept. 30, 1873, was 44-6; mean tempera- ture of the coldest month (January), 19*2 ; of the warmest (June and August), 69'1 . The annual mean at Escanaba (lat. 45 44', elevation 601 ft.) was 40-01; coldest month (Decem- ber), 11-3; warmest (June), 69-3; total an- nual rainfall, 25'7 inches. At Marquette (lat. 46 33', elevation 666 ft.) the annual mean was 38-3 ; coldest month (December), 12 ; warm- est (August), 63-4; total annual rainfall, 23-46 inches. The whole number of deaths in 1870 was 11,181, of which 4,822 were from general diseases, 1,349 from diseases of the nervous, 407 of the circulatory, 1,025 of the respirato- ry, and 1,800 of the digestive system. Among special diseases, there were 707 deaths from scarlet fever, 666 from enteric fever, 153 from intermittent fever, 97 from remittent fever, 1,844 from consumption, and 702 from pneu- monia. The northern peninsula with some ex- ceptions is rugged and has a poor soil. It is, however, well timbered with white pine, spruce, hemlock, birch, oak, aspen, maple, ash, and elm. Much of the southern is occupied by oak open- ings and prairie, with a large portion of forest, in which walnut, sugar maple, oak, hickory, ash, basswood, elm, linden, locust, dogwood, beech, sycamore, cherry, pine, hemlock, spruce, tamarack, cypress, cedar, and chestnut are the prevailing growths. White pine forms the chief wealth of the N. half of this peninsula. The upper portion of the state is beyond the N. line of Indian corn, but here the hardier grains mature. The southern produces Indian corn and the winter grains abundantly, and is the great agricultural district of the state. The soils in this portion are deep, chiefly a dark loam, often mixed with gravel and clay, and very fertile. Apples are grown here in great quantities. Peaches are successfully raised on the shores of Lake Michigan, while pears, plums, cherries, blackberries, raspber- ries, strawberries, and quinces flourish through- out the state. The vine is cultivated on the shores of Lakes Michigan and Erie, and in the principal river valleys. The lakes and streams afford productive fisheries, among which are those of the far-famed whitefish. According to the census of 1870, Michigan was 10th among the states in the value of agricultural produc- tions, and 9th in the value of manufactures. The whole number of farms was 98,786, of which 6,897 contained less than 10 acres each, 13,170 from 10 to 20, 38,795 from 20 to 50, 27,687 from 50 to 100, 12,175 from 100 to 500, 57 from 500 to 1,000, and 5 more than 1,000 acres each. The number of acres of land in farms was 10,019,142, of which 5,096,939 were im- proved; cash value of farms, $398,240,578; of farming implements and machinery, $13,- 711,979; wages paid during the year, inclu- ding the value of board, $8,421,161 ; estimated value of farm productions, including better- ments and additions to stock, $81,508,623; value of orchard products, $3,447,985; of produce of market gardens, $352,658; of for- est products, $2,559,682; of home manufac- tures, $338,008; of animals slaughtered or sold for slaughter, $11,711,624; of live stock, $49,809,809. The chief productions and live stock according to the census of 1870 and the state census of 1874 were: 1S70. Wheat bushels 16,265,773 Rye....: " 144,508 Indian corn... " 14,056,238 Oats " 8,954,466 Barley " S84,558 Buckwheat ... " 436,755 Peas and beans " 849,365 Potatoes " 10,81 8,799 Clover seed... " 49,919 Wool Ibs. 8,726,145 Butter " 24,400,185 Cheese. " 670 804 1874. Wheat bushels Indian corn. . . " Other grain ... " Potatoes " Wool Ibs. Pork marketed " Cheese " 15,456.202 20,792.905 18,209.758 5,618,863 7,729,011 48,434,106 4.101,912 27,972,117 4.819,793 2,664,709 2,007.606 182,847 50,851 1.134,077 5,928,275 22.069 40.857 3.607 66.746 48,922 40 502 29,n 2S1.304 33.901 881,781 307,554 1.649.199 401.720 Butter " Maple sugar.. " Fruit dried... " Fruit and vege- tables canned " Cider, barrels Wine, gallons Hay. tons Apples bushels Peaches " Pears " Plums " Cherries " Strawberries. . ki Currants and gooseberries " Grapes, cvts Horses Hops " 828,269 Flax " 240,110 Maple sugar.. " 1,781,855 Honey " 280.325 Milk sold, gallons 2,277,122 Sorghum mo- lassos " 94,6S6 Hay, tons 1,21)0,928 Horses on farms . . 228,302 Horses not on farms 25,36=! Milch cows -J.Mi. -.)'.) Working oxen 36,499 Other cattle 260,171 Neat cattle not on farms. . 87 605 Working oxen .... Milch cows Other cattle Sheep . Sheep 1,985.901. Swine . . . 417.811 Swine . . .