WAYNE COUNTY. 253 



that is required to carry off the superfluous water from the wooded portion of 

 the park. Provision is made in the plan for a gate on each canal at the 

 upp^r end and also one at each end of the outlet canal which, in the event of 

 floods from long continued rains or from unusually high water in the river at 

 any time, may be shut, and the water in the canal kept, by means of steam 

 power, at any desired level." 



Parade grounds, shooting ranges and other facilities for amusement are 

 contemplated, and ample shelter for visitors against sun and storm are to be 

 supplied. It is proposed to leave the wooded portion on the upper half of 

 the park, as far as practicable, in its natural condition, carefully thinning 

 and trimming the growths to secure the healthy and sturdy growth of the 

 remainder, and opening the needful walks and drives. 



Probably the earliest horticultural society in the State was the Detroit 

 Horticultural Society, which completed its organization on the 16th of March, 

 1841, with John Winder as president, John C. Holmes and B. G. Stimson as 

 vice-presidents, M. Howard Webster corresponding secretary, John Lumsden 

 recording secretary, and Thomas Hall treasurer. This society made many 

 fine displays of fruit, flowers and plants, continuing its meetings and exhibi- 

 tions till the spring of 1853, when, from some unexplained cause, it became 

 disorganized. 



This locality remained without a local organization till the early part of 

 the year 1874, when a Wayne County Horticultural Society was organized, 

 with headquarters at Detroit, which, in July, 1875, invited a meeting of the 

 State Horticultural Society, which was held at Young Men's Hall, in Detroit. 

 A prominent and interesting feature of this meeting, in addition to an exten- 

 sive display of flowers, plants and fruits, was a large collection of the indig- 

 enous fishes of the State, in commodious tanks, arranged in the basement of 

 the building. This display was made by S. H. Davis & Co., of Detroit, and 

 was in charge of Captain A. Harriman. The State Society was welcomed to 

 Detroit by President W. T. Jupp, of the Wayne County Society, and the exer- 

 cises were conducted by T. T. Lyon, president of the visiting society. 



The sessions were made doubly interesting by the presence and active par- 

 ticipation of Dr. John A. Warder, president; M. B. Bateham, secretary; G. 

 W. Campbell, treasurer, and N. Ohmer and IjBo Welz, official members of the 

 Ohio Horticultural Society. 



The Wayne County Society maintained its existence for a year or two longer, 

 when it became dissolved. 



On February 13th, 1884, a new Wayne County Horticultural Society was 

 organized, with the aid of Secretary C. W. Garfield, of the State Horticultural 

 Society, with the town of Plymouth as headquarters. It was constituted 

 auxiliary to the State Horticultural Society, with A. D. Stevens as president, 

 and D. F. Griswold, secretary. This society still maintains its organization. 



The State Agricultural Society, which was organized at Lansing March 23, 

 1849, and incorporated by act of the Legislature, approved April 2d, 1849, held 

 its first annual fair at Detroit on the 25th, 26th, and 27th of the following 

 September. Those of 1851 to 1862, inclusive, were also held at Detroit. 

 They were held at other places during the next four years, but were again 

 held at Detroit in 1867 and 1868, after which they were held elsewhere for 

 nine consecutive years, recurring at Detroit in 1878, 1879, and 1880, and 

 again, after an absence of two years, in 1883, in September of which year the 

 last exhibition was held in this county down to the present time. Since 1872 



