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a. THOMPSON'S COAST PILOT, 151 of salt was not really commenced until 1860, hundreds of barrels are now being produced daily. Plaster is abundant in various : parts of the State. 'The inex- haustible plaster beds of Grands Rapids constitute one of the prime sources of prosperity of that enterprising city. Our whole State has a great interest in the trade, the material being, it is admitted, a better fertilizer than the imported article. -- The soil is generally as rich as any prairie land, and even more sub- 'stantial in the elements of fertility. The northern part of the South- ern Peninsula, especially the Grand 'Traverse region, so far as it has been developed, is the most reliable wheat growing portion of the Union. The climate is comparatively mild, and extensive settle- 'ments have already commenced in that region, as well as in other localities in the new portion of the State. The number of bushels of wheat produced in 1860, was 8,171,688, and there was manutfac- ~~ tured 1,786,289 barrels of flour ; and our State, through the superior quality of some favorite grades of flour, is justly celebrated, both at home and in Europe. Indian corn is one of the sinnie eqdvetions of the State. In the year 1860, there was raised 12,372,877 bushels. Barley, rye, oats, buckwheat and potatoes are easily and abund- antly raised, as will appear from the following statement of the num- 'ber of each raised in 1860: . Barley, 302,951; rye, 526, 116% oats, 4,063,528 ; buckwheat, 523,687 ;. potatoes, 5,258,628. - Fruits of all kinds is 'easily raised in néarly every portion of the State, Every kind of wild fruit found in the same latitude east, with some kinds that are not, are lavished. in greater abundance, and are oftentimes of a superior quality. The value of the orchard products for 1860, was $1,116,219. | a Re The dairy products for 1860 are as follows: Butter, 15,498,047 pounds ; cheese, 1,610,097 pounds. . Michigan produces excellent wool. There are numerous flocks of French, Spanish and Saxon Merinos in the State, which have been selected or bred with the greatest care, and the wool produced by them cannot be surpassed in any of the Western States. There are also flocks of coarse wooled sheep, which produce the heavier fleeces. The wool clip of 1861 produced nearly 4,000,000 pounds.