218 STATE HOKTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



abundance of Avild berries. But the Concord grape ripens here, and cultivated 

 small fruits are being slowly introduced. 



We have no horticultural society organized, and the fruit interest is encour- 

 aged by the agricultural society, organized six years ago, and several good 

 exhibits of apples, pears, and plums have been made at the fairs of the society. 

 Many of our people are evincing an increased interest in the reports of the 

 Pomological Society, and, though remote from the exhibitions of your products, 

 a few have visited some of the grand displays of that most prominent fruit 

 interest of the State. The general impression among our people is, that 

 although far removed from the much boasted "fruit belt" of the State, we 

 shall yet produce the home supply of fruit by a more careful selection of hardy 

 varieties adapted to our location, and by improved methods of cultivation, for 

 which we are already indebted to the energy and liberality of the Pomological 

 Society. 



BENZIE COUNTY. 



KEPORTED BY J. J. HUBBELL OF BENZONIA. 



Was first settled in 1S58 by a colony from Ohio, which located at Benzouia, 

 eight miles back from the lake, on the high lands at the head of Crystal Lake. 



This Crystal Lake is only separated from Lake Michigan by a low sand ridge, 

 so that the influence of the large lake is carried inland to Benzonia in much 

 the same way as it is carried into Grand Traverse county by Traverse Bay. 

 A settlement was also made at the mouth of Betsie Kiver, now known as 

 Frankfort, about the same time ; but as the principal business was dealing in 

 wood and lumber, but little attention was given to the planting of fruit trees. 

 On the other hand, at Benzonia almost every settler planted a small orchard, 

 as soon as he had land enough cleared for the trees to stand upon. As examples 

 of this, I would mention Kev. C. E. Bailey and his brother John Bailey, who 

 set their door-yards out to peach trees, raised from pits brought with them. 

 They also set small apple orchards. The following persons also set apple and 

 peach trees with some pears and plum trees : Horace Burr, Wm. Steel, J. R. 

 Burr, J. B. Walker (2 orchards), L. W. Case, Rev. Geo. Thompson, W. S. 

 Hubbell, E. Niell, and A. S. Case. While at Frankfort, R. Bull and Mr. 

 Oliver set orchards at about the same time, and as the county settled up many 

 others followed. 



But little attention was paid to varieties at first, as it was all guess work as 

 to what would succeed, and nursery men sent about what they liked. But few 

 took any care to preserve the names of the kinds they had set, so that to this 

 day not one-half the varieties produced by these old orchards are known, and 

 they form a constant study and puzzle to pomologists to name them. The 

 kinds that are being planted now are mostly Golden Russet, Wagener, Rhode 

 Island Greening, Grimes' Golden, Northern Spy, and Red Canada, for market; 

 while for family use the Benoni, Porter, Red Astrachan, Fameuse, Dutchesse 

 of Oldenburg, Chenango Strawberry, Lowell and Primate, are the most sought 

 after. 



There are no nurseries to speak of in our county, but there is a good chance 

 for some one in that line. As to new varieties I might mention one tree 

 among the seedlings set by Mr. C. E. Bailey as giving good promise. It is of 

 the late Crawford type, but has not been disseminated to any extent as I know of. 



