AT a meeting of the Michigan State Pomological Society, not long since, Mr. J. S. Linderman, of South Haven, presented a most valuable and interesting paper upon the climatic influence of large bodies of water, and the peculiar adaptability of the country bordering the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, for the production of fruit, especially the peach. Mr. Linderman's observation upon peach growing, and the indications of the thermometer east and west of Lake Michigan, are of no ordinary interest. He says, "It is now a well understood fact that but very few, if any, inland localities in this latitude can produce this fruit with sufficient certainty to warrant its extensive cultivation. The interior of New York formerly produced it in abundance and with tolerable certainty. Now but a few favored localities produce it to any extent. So of the interior of Ohio, Indiana and this State. There is no lack of soil adapted to the growth of the peach in nearly every township of all the States named; but it is very susceptible to atmospheric changes.

It succeeds perhaps in fewer localities than any other fruit grown to any extent in this latitude.

On the east shore of our great equalizer, Lake Michigan, we have a climate and soil peculiarly adapted to fruits, particularly the peach. Experience has proved, and the record shows, that at South Haven we are subject to a less degree of cold in winter and heat in summer than perhaps any other locality in this latitude, east of the Rocky Mountains. I think very few are aware of the difference in temperature in different localities on the lake shore; also the difference on the lake shore and in the interior. I have taken quite an interest in this subject for a few years, and will give you some comparisons, the better to illustrate this part of my subject.

Five years ago last winter it was from 17 to 22 degrees below zero in the interior; the coldest at our place, just zero.

December 25, 1870, at St. Joseph it was eight to nine degrees below zero; just zero at South Haven.

December 22, 1871, reported by Mr. Brown, President of St. Joseph Fruit Growers' Association, at 13 degrees below zero; by Hon. John Whittlesey at 15 degrees below; at Coloma, 18 degrees below; at South Haven, six observations varied from one to five degrees below. Five was the lowest I heard mentioned; that was my record.

February 5th, last, at Kalamazoo, it was 16 degrees below zero; 15 to 18 at St. Joseph, and from two to five below at our place. For three winters before the last it has been below zero but twice.

To arrive at a correct idea of the protection our lake affords us, we must compare our record with that west of the lake.

Beloit, Wis., is on a line directly west of our place, sixty miles from the west shore of our lake. February 11th, last, at evening, it was 38 degrees above zero; the next morning six degrees below, making a change of 44 degrees in one night. At our place the record was as follows: February 11th, evening, 36 degrees above zero, two degrees cooler than at Beloit at the same time. Morning of the 12th, with a stiff west wind, 34 degrees above zero, making 40 degrees warmer than Beloit, but blowing hard, with some snow, and getting cold fast; at noon, thermometer 18 degrees above zero. It continued to grow cold for 36 hoars, when it was only eight degrees above zero; making our change in temperature 28 degrees in 36 hours, against 44 in a night at Beloit; our change was gradual compared with theirs, and was 14 degrees less. There is not a winter passes but they have it from 15 to 25 degrees colder than we do. At the time above mentioned there was a change of 51 degrees the same night in Missouri.

The inquiry will naturally arise, on what ground do we claim this superiority of climate, and what proof do we offer to sustain our claims? My answer is this: First, the record of the thermometer, as stated above. The second proof is theoretical. The open, unfrozen water of the lake, is the source of our protection. The prevailing winds in the winter, in our cold spells are almost invariably from the west, westerly or southwest, the latter the most trying of all. The lake at South Haven is about 22 miles wider than it is 20 or 25 miles further south: and the wider the surface of unfrozen water the greater the amount of protection, the water being warmer than the atmosphere. The warmer air from the surface of the water being lighter than the cold air, rises constantly, and has a tendency to reduce the temperature. As proof, note the difference between Beloit and South Haven. I have no doubt that, if the lake had been frozen over, our change would have corresponded with theirs. The difference can be accounted for in no other way. We have from 60 to 100 miles of open water between us and the extremes of cold west, northwest or southwest, while those further south have much less protection, except from the north and northwest.

Another great advantage we derive from our lake is the moist atmosphere, both summer and winter. I think that a great advantage to our fruit, especially in extreme drouth in either hot or cold weather."