■223 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



growing Concords and Delawares, was found in a flourishing condition, and 

 also the island of W. C. Sterling, with four acres of Concord vines. These 

 islands seem to possess advantages over the main land, the waters of the bay 

 keeping the frosts off to a later date, and enabling the grapes to ripen up more 

 fully. The vineyard and the apple orchard of J. M. Sterling, near the docks, 

 were also examined and highly commended. This vineyard is only 2| acres in 

 extent, and was the first vineyard planted in the county, being planted in 1866. 

 There are now over twenty vineyards in this vicinity, embracing in all nearly 

 200 acres. 



J. M. Sterling's apple orchard was declared by the committee to be pretty 

 nearly a number one orchard, the trees being vigorous and healthy, well 

 pruned, and well laden with fruit, and the varieties among the best grown. 

 The question was asked, " is it a good plan to give hogs the freedom of the 

 orchard, as Mr. Sterling does ?" " Most certainly," was replied, " the hogs 

 destroy the insects, and keep the trees and the fruit healthy." 



Messrs. Sterling and Noble having chartered the tug A. D. Perkins, the 

 committee, accompanied by J. M. Sterling and H. M. Noble, enjoyed a delight- 

 ful sail down the river, and across to Pointe Aux Peaux, where they were met 

 by Messrs. W. A. Noble, Rev. Dr. Mattoon, E. H. Reynolds, and other gentle- 

 men, of Monroe, and J. R. Bennett and J. I. Knapp of Adrian, who accompan- 

 ied the committee in an examination of the Wine Cellar, and the process of 

 making wine, and their large vineyard of twelve acres, in a most complete 

 condition, and heavily laden with most beautiful and luscious fruit. The 

 examination completed, the committee and other guests were entertained by 

 Mrs. Sterling and Noble, with a sumptuous repast, to which they did ample 

 justice. 



At the table. Prof. Beal announced that the committee had just held a meet- 

 ing, and had awarded the first premium of the Society, a golden medal to the 

 Pointe Aux Peaux Wine Company's Vineyard, it being marked a perfect vine- 

 yard by the members of the committee,'in all the points of examination, viz. : 

 soil, protection, market, variety, and arrangement, culture, pruning and trellis- 

 ing, healthfulness, and freedom from insects, and fruitfulness. 



Certainly we have never seen any vineyard better laden with fruit, or in 

 better condition in any respect, than that at Pointe Aux Peaux, at the present 

 time. 



The committee also found at the Point a small peach orchard, which they 

 ■declared to be in the healthiest condition of any peach trees they had seen, free 

 from yellows and other diseases, but bearing no fruit. 



The labors of the committee being over they again embarked in the tug 

 Perkins, and reached the Monroe depot in time for the 5 o'clock train, which 

 conveyed them towards their several homes. 



The committee expressed themselves not only astonished but highly 

 delighted and edified by their visit to Monroe, and their examination of its 

 nurseries and vineyards. 



