384 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



from Zanesville, Ohio, his former residence, and planted tbem on the farm now 

 owned by the same family; and the original orchard is still in thrifty bearing 

 of natural fruit, grown Irom the seed planted by Mr. Harris in 1829 or 1830. 



Aaron Eames set the first orchard on Grand Prairie in 1837, which he con- 

 tinued to extend during his residence there, and embracing every variety of 

 fruit susceptible of cultivation in this section, and he was the first one to meet 

 the demand of our increasing population in the county for fruit. 



Kent county, which was settled subsequently to this, for many years received 

 our surplus crop of apples. That county at an early day was not supposed to 

 be adapted to fruit culture, as many other parts of our State were also con- 

 sidered doubtful; but it seems now to claim the right of being part and parcel 

 of the "Fruit Belt," and presents such substantial proof of the right as 

 admits of no question. 



PLUMS, 



n'hich for a number of years after the early settlement of the county succeeded, 

 admirably, bearing in great profusion, and splendid in quality, succumbed to 

 the curculio, its deadly enemy; first in the failure of the fruit, and then in the 

 decay of the tree. Kecent experiments in renewing the cultivation of this 

 Taluable fruit have met with gratifying success, and it is confidently hoped that 

 former results will again be assured, with the increasing knowledge we are 

 gaining of the habits and means of destruction of this formidable enemy of 

 our fruit culture. 



THE PEACH. 



There were a few years when the peach crop failed of fruitage, and fears 

 were entertained that we should be obliged to give up this luscious fruit. 

 Peach orchards were cut down, others decayed from age, and very little anxiety 

 preyailed for its further propagation ; but an occasional crop was obtained from 

 the trees permitted to live, which revived the appetite for the fruit, and the 

 argument for its further cultivation assumed that even a quadrennial crop 

 "would pay for cultivation. New peach orchards were planted, doubtingly at 

 first, but with such unexpected and gratifying results as followed, that we are 

 again having a generous supply of this delicious fruit, not yet in sufficient 

 quantities to meet our local demand, but in quantity, quality, and cost of 

 cultivation, that we may confidently continue to increase our acreage, with 

 assurance of a margin beyond cost. The results of the past winter need not 

 be discouraging ; such severe winters are exceptional, and form eras in our 

 climatic history. 



THE APPLE. 



When we speak of apple cultivation, we feel that its extension may be limit- 

 less, with a soil, climate, and location unsurpassed, and direct communication 

 with the fruit-markets of the West and Northwest that must depend mainly 

 upon the fruit crops of western Michigan for their supply for many years, if 

 not for all time. There are doubtless those present who remember how care- 

 fully they watched their first specimens of fruitage, the reward of years of toil 

 and waiting, when the numbers could be more easily counted than the barrels 

 of the present. The hope and faith which stimulated the labor now receives, 

 its full fruition in the abundance of the annual harvest. 



FKUIT 



should, more largely than at present, become a component part of our daily 

 diet. As a nation we use too much animal and grain food. Why we do it, is 



