MACOMB COUNTY. 277 



goes to Chicago, and there are extensive evaporating factories that use up the 

 remainder. 



Peaches are not extensively grown, although there are several orchards of 

 from three to ten acres, consisting mostly of Early and Late Crawfords that 

 prove profitable. Pear tree blight and the plum curculio are prevalent, and 

 these fruits are not extensively grown. Considerable is being done in the 

 way of gardening for the Detroit market. 



In 1850 the farm committee of the State Agricultural Society, in speaking 

 of the farm of Hon, Payne K. Leach, of Shelby, say : " It includes a good 

 orchard of about four acres, mostly apples, and of the very best selections, 

 and bears bountifully. The orchard has been set fifteen years, and the whole 

 grafted within seven years. It is the finest orchard and fruit we know of. 

 Mr. Leach has all the varieties of peaches, pears, plums, cherries, etc. in 

 abundance." 



In 1868 the county agricultural society reports: "No peach crop in this 

 county for several years. At the annual fair on the 17th to 19th of October, 

 the liberal j)remiums brought out a very fine display, in spite of the unfavor- 

 able season." 



In 1869 apples were not more than half a crop ; peaches were the best crop 

 lor years. 



In 1870 the exhibit of flowers was not equal to that of the previous year. 

 The fair came too late to secure many offerings of the numerous varieties of 

 flowers which flourish in the open air in this vicinity. Our people are not 

 wanting in the love of flowers, nor in those domestic sentiments which their 

 cultivation implies. 



A county agricultural society was organized on February 5th, 1850, which 

 has maintained an active existence to the present time and which has steadily 

 given prominence to pomological and horticultural interests. 



The Union Farmers' Club of Romeo was in existence as early as 1871, at 

 which time a committee appointed for the purpose recommended the follow- 

 ing list of apples as adapted to that locality: — 



Summer — Keswick Codlin, Red Astrachan, Sweet Bough. 



Autumn — Fameuse, Holland (Fall) Pippin, Porter. 



Winter — Rhode Island Greening, Red Canada, Baldwin, Northern Spy, 

 Esopus Spitzenburg. Uriel Day, 



James Stevens, 

 J. E. Day, 



Committee. 



In 1876 the club made its report to the State Pomological Society, embody- 

 ing therein many valuable practical hints respecting the management of 

 orchards and the most desirable varieties for planting, and the best methods 

 of keeping and using the fruits. 



Another committee of this club appointed in 1875 recommended the fol- 

 lowing five varieties of apples, viz. : Rhode Island Greening, Red Canada, 

 Northern Spy, Baldwin, and Golden Russet, in the order named. 



The Armada Agricultural Society was organized in 1873. Located as it is 

 at the extreme north, it is no doubt intended to more especially accommodate 

 that locality. 



The census of 1884 shows in Macomb county of apple orchards 7,719 acres, 

 266,862 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 93,549 bushels of fruit. 



