THE OCTOBER MEETING. 311 



of chaos began to grow a thing of beauty. Very soon it was apparent that 

 that this was to be something more than a mere township or county exhibi- 

 tion, — it was assuming State proportions. We have seen many State Fairs 

 that did not approach this Traverse Fruit Fair. Ail were pleased and delight- 

 ed, and the old pioneers were proud of their work. Here was the history of 

 Northern Michigan illustrated. Every plate of fruit, every bag of grain, 

 every vegetable was a page of tiiis history, and told its tale of growth and 

 develoiiment. 



Grand Traverse county was the leader, and as her display assumed form and 

 proportions, stretching across the Hall, all confessed that it was a splendid 

 show. 



BENZIE COUNTY. 



But the sisters of Grand Traverse county were not behind in their products 

 of the orchard and vineyard. Youthful Benzie county, a ten-year-old in fruit 

 culture, put in a charming appearance. This county is on the lake shore, with 

 Frankfort for its chief harbor and Benzonia for its county seat, which is about 

 30 miles southwest of Traverse City. This collection was brought by land, 

 and of course found rough traveling, and some of the apples had, consequently, 

 lost their brilliancy. Benzie is a hard-wood county, and fruit culture is a 

 complete success there, the soil producing excellent apples, pears, plums, and 

 grapes. Ten years ago, reader, where this collection came from were dense 

 woods. Mark the progress ! Behold the transformation from barbarism to 

 civilization ! 



From Mr. Voorheis and other gentlemen in charge we gather the following 

 statistics: 



Apples — Thirty-five varieties, including the Baldwin, R. I. Greening, Bell- 

 flower, Ram bo. Snow, and others. 



Fears — Ten varieties, including the Flemish Beauty, Bartlett, Stevens' Gen- 

 esee, Louise Bonne d' Jersey, Vicar of Winkfield, and others. 



Plums — Ten varieties of delicious plums, Including the Jefferson, Green 

 Gage, Coe's Golden Drop, Canada Egg preserved in alcohol. Smith's Orleans. 



Peaches — Early Crawford, Benzie Beauty, evidently a seedling from the 

 Crawford, Hale's Early, and three other varieties, with some reliable seedlings. 



Grapes — Delaware, Clinton, Concord, in all four varieties. 



Raspberries — The Philadelphia, Golden Cap, Red Antwerp, Purple Cane, 

 Davidson's Thornless, Doolittle. 



Strawberries, currants, cherries, in jars, were other representations of small 

 fruits. "Good for Benzie county," was the exclamation of all delighted 

 spectators. 



LEELANAW COUNTY. 



We now pass on to another partner in this exhibition, to the collection from 

 Leelanaw county. It was not a whit behind its neighbors, but in some single 

 specimens surpassed all. Here we found Mr. V. C. Miller, of New Mission, of 

 Leelanaw township, 23 miles from Traverse City, with 23 varieties of afiples. 

 A plate of Northern Spy was the finest of the show. The Duchess of Olden- 

 berg was a very popular variety, avS it was in all other collections, — a productive 

 vai'iety, exceedingly hardy, and a good grower of wood as well as of fruit ; here 

 an autumn sort without any doul)t. The Alexander, showy, dressy, brilliant, 

 elsewhere rated a number three for quality, was here reckoned as number one. 

 The Sweet Bough, of gigantic proportions, still retains a portion of its summer 



