MONROE COUNTY. 213 



Ilgenfritz, will now skow you what is a rare sight, namely, trees of all ages, 

 from nearly one hundred years old down to ten years' growth, all in vigorous 

 health and bearing. You will there see to-day the trees of all the ages and 

 epochs I have spoken of— those of 1780, of 1804, of 1810, of 1830, of 1840, 

 and of the present generation. As one died another one has been substituted. 



An apology is scarcely needed for the prolixity of the foregoing extract, 

 since in few, if any, other localities in this State are found such abundant 

 remains of the early fruit plantations of the pioneer "voyageurs" who, dur- 

 ing the earliest years of our authentic history, occupied the borders of our 

 lakes and rivers; while, probably, in no other locality has the debris of their 

 early horticultural operations been more carefully and authentically collated. 



Wild or Indian rice, sometimes called water oats {zizania aquatica), grows 

 abundantly in the shallow waters on either side of the deeper channel of the 

 Raisin, extending perhaps a couple of miles above its mouth, as is indicated 

 in the foregoing extract. 



Yellow nelumbo lotus, or water chinquepin {nehimbium luteum), a com- 

 paratively rare plant, is also common in these waters, as is also the case a 

 little farther south, in La Plaisauce bay, as well as in Sandusky bay, in the 

 adjacent State of Ohio. 



On the 14th of July, 1817, by proclamation of Lewis Cass, governor of 

 the then territory of Michigan, the'county of Monroe was established, witk 

 its present limits, with the county of Lenawee temporarily attached. 



In September of the same year the township of Monroe was organized, 

 and became the county seat of the new county. 



Aside from the natural increase of the resident French, the population of 

 the county increased but slowly until the introduction of steam navigation 

 upon Lake Erie, and the opening of the Erie canal in the year 1825 afforded 

 increased facilities for reaching this then remote western region. 



KURSERIES. 



The earliest modern horticultural enterprise, in Monroe county, of which 

 we have authentic information, was the establishment of a nursery, which, 

 about the year 1840, was conducted by a person then commonly known as 

 " Variety " VVhite. The subsequent history of this enterprise is unknown. 

 It probably became merged in one of the establishments which date their ori- 

 gin from that period. 



E. H. Reynolds, of Monroe, states that the first nursery established at that 

 city was commenced by Hartwell & Bisbee and called the Monroe nursery. 

 Two years later this was purchased by E. H. Reynolds, who subsequently sold 

 it to I. E. Ilgenfritz, by whom it has been continued till the present time, 

 but more recently under the firm name of I. E. Ilgenfritz & Sons. These 

 nurseries cover some 300 acres of excellent land, thoroughly underdrained at 

 a large expense, and are reported to supply stock to the amount of 850,000 

 to $70,000 annually. 



Soon after the purchase of his nursery interest by Mr. Ilgenfritz, Mr. Rey- 

 nolds commenced the Monroe City nursery, which he conducted for eight or 

 ten years, after which it became the property of Reynolds, Lewis & Co., by 

 whom it was conducted for fourteen years, when the company was dissolved, 

 E. H. Reynolds assuming the management of the nursery, which then took 

 his name. 



