254 GENERAL HISTORY. 



the horticultural portion of these exhibits has beeu made by the State Pomo- 

 logical (now Horticultural) Society. 



At the opening of the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, at Philadelphia, in 

 the month of May, John Waterman and P. E. White, of Northville, contrib- 

 ute 1 fine specimens of apples, the growth of the previous year, under the 

 name Steele's Red Winter, which were so like Red Canada, coming from 

 other sections of the State, that the judges failed to detect a difference. 



At the general exhibit of northern fruits, commencing September 11th, the 

 Wayne County Horticultural Society (the one organized in 1874), contributed 

 valuable aid. Fine exhibits of fruits were also forwarded at sundry times 

 from J. W. Humphrey, of Plymouth, drawn from the experimental orchards 

 planted at that place by T. T. Lyon. 



The winter of 1873 and '3 was exceptionally cold throughout the northwest. 

 As giving a slight indication of the modifying influence of adjacent water, we 

 quote the following minimum temperature at corresponding dates : — 



Northville, Dec. 24th, 1872,-27°: Jan. 29th, 1873,-29°. 



Near Detroit, Dec. 24th, 1872,-25°; Jan. 29th, 1873,-34°. 



Detroit river was doubtless nearly or quite free from ice at the date of the 

 former observation, and was probably covered with ice at the latter date, while 

 the elevated location at Northville gave it the advantage at the second period. 



A little north of the village of Wayne, in the township of Nankin, occurs a 

 natural arove of chestnut trees, many of them of large size, interspersed more 

 or less freely among other forest trees. The fruit has proved so abundant and 

 profitable that, in many cases, farmers have been induced to cut away all other 

 trees, leaving these for the profit of the crop. The grove originally occupied 

 several hundred acres, and is supposed to be the only one in southern Michi- 

 gan, except a similar one a few miles from the city of Monroe. 



The census of 1884 gave to Wayne county of apple orchards 8,817 acres, 

 284,267 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 85,933 bushels of fruit. 



Peach orchards, 78 acres, 3,734 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 738 bushels 

 of fruit. 



The value of orchard products of all kinds, sold or consumed in 1883, was 

 $52,186.00. 



Vineyards, 94 acres: grapes sold in 1883, 41,939 pounds. 



wine made in 1883, 420 gallons. 



Nurseries, 47 acres; products sold in 1883, $17,866.00. 



Market garden products sold in 1883, $117,729 00. 



WASHTENAW COUNTY. 



This county was set off by Governor Cass, by proclamation, issued on the 

 10th of September, 1822, including what are now the south half of Living- 

 ston county, the southeast four townships of Ingham, and two tiers of town- 

 ships of what is now Jackson county. It was temporarily attached to Wayne 

 county. 



It was organized, with the limits already prescribed, by act of the Legisla- 

 tive Council, taking effect on the 31st of December, 1826. 



Subsequently, by an act of the Legislative Council, approved October 29th, 



