HILLSDALE COUNTY. 227 



erly direction until they unite with the Miami, there to swell its bosom as a 

 feeder to our inland ocean, and the sixth and last making in a due east courfe 

 until it reaches Lake Erie." 



In 1827 Captain Moses Allen settled at Allen's prairie; and in 1828 Be- 

 naiah Jones, Jr., located at the point where the great Indian (sank) trail 

 crossed the St. Joseph river. 



The village of Jonesville was laid out by Benaiah Jones, Jr., and plat re- 

 corded in Lenawee county, January Slst, 1831, at which date there were said 

 to be but 1,280 acres of land located, and but about twelve settlers within the 

 county. 



The earliest plantations of orchards were made by W. Brady, Somerset ; W. 

 Gaige, Fayette, and E. Maxon, Pittsford ; but at what dates, we have not been 



able to learn, except that Daniel Pratt and Harrington, of Somerset planted 



orchards as early as 1833. 



As early as the year 1851, the farm committee of the State Agricultural 

 Society report the statement of W. H. Miller, of Moscow, respecting the fruit 

 department of his farm as follows: " Number of apple trees, one hundred and 

 twenty ; one-half grafted ; with forty or fifty peach trees ; also fifteen cherry 

 trees, of various kinds. Keeps well pruned, and the ground loose with chip 

 manure." 



In 1854 H. B. Chapman, of Beading, in entering his farm for the premium 

 of the State Agricultural Society, states that "he has two hundred grafted 

 apple trees, of winter varieties ; also one hundred and seventy fruit trees 

 other than apple. He has not been troubled Tfith insects. He washes his 

 trees Avith strong lye, and keeps them as clean as a hill of corn." 



In 18G7 Secretary F. M. Holloway, of the county society, in his annual re- 

 port, remarks: " Our fruit interest is becoming a very important one. Ap- 

 ples are very abundant; but, owing to the dry autumn, they matured imper- 

 fectly, and are small and perishable. Peaches were abundant for home con- 

 sumption ; but from the uncertainty of the crop, farmers have neglected to 

 keep their orchards fully set. Pears are being extensively cultivated, and 

 with marked success. The same remark will apply to grapes and smaller 

 fruits generally. 



''In 1868 apples were alight crop, and the, fruits small; no peaches. 

 Fruits set well in the spring, but the cold rains of May and June blasted 

 most of the apples. 



" In 1870 at the county fair, there were forty-five entries and twenty-one 

 awards in floriculture; and three hundred and fifty-six entries and seventy-five 

 awards on fruits; the department of fruits taking the lead, and making, of 

 itself, a magnificent show." 



'' In 1871 the entries of fruits, at the annual fair, were five hundred and 

 sixteen; and of vegetables fifty-six, in a total of thirteen hundred and eighty- 

 three entries." 



Nurseries have not been found profitable on account of the winter-killing of 

 the stock. Nursery products are mainly imported ; largely from Eochester, 

 New York. 



The ornamentation of cemeteries has been rarely undertaken, till within 

 the last ten yeais; since which the planting of such grounds with both de- 

 ciduous and evergreen trees has become more common. 



Several commercial dryers have been started, but they have generally failed. 

 Portable dryers are more commonly used. 



