282 GENERAL HISTORY. 



Our bouquet exhibited at the State fair, at Detroit, was the ninth one picked 

 from the school yard. The early frost did not leave us a very great variety. 

 I have this bouquet yet, but it is withered. The scholars promised me they 

 would plant seeds again next year, and I think they will if the seed men 

 make the same liberal offer. I asked them if tliey considered it a task or a 

 pleasure to cultivate the flowers, and all replied that it was a great pleasure, and 

 requested me to thank you for your interest in them, which I most cheerfully 

 do. I think it will prove a success, and can safely say that seven-ninths o 

 the district are in favor of the flowers, and I assure you the children are." 



According to the census of 1884 Oakland county has of apple orchards, 14,626 

 acres, 475,465 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 205,626 bushels of fruit. 



Peach orchards, 1,093 acres, 44,320 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 1,394 

 bushels of fruit. 



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

 $130,549.00. 



Vineyards, 42 acres: grapes sold in 1883, 21,149 pounds. 



wine made in 1883, 124 gallons. 



Nurseries, none. 



Market garden products sold in 1883, $9,838.00. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



This county was ?et by act of the Territorial Legislature, approved March 

 21st, 1833. It was organized in pursuance of an act of the State Legisla- 

 ture, approved March 24th, 1836. It was named in honor of Edward Liv- 

 ingston, Secretary of State in the cabinet of Andrew Jackson. 



Howell, the county seat, became an incorporated village March 14th, 1863. 



Little can be gathered respecting the first settlement of this county, which 

 probably occurred about 1836 or 1837. At least there are accounts of the 

 planting of orchards very soon after this date. 



Much of the county is knobby, or rolling, in surface, and is interspersed 

 with small lakes, which, with the character of the soil, adapt it admirably 

 to the production of the hardier fruits. It has, from its earliest settlement, 

 been noted for its good ajiples and excellent cider. Every farm has its 

 orchard, though but little has ever been done in commercial horticulture. 



At Fowlerville, as early as 1838, an orchard was planted by Mr. Nutt, 

 which has proved successful, and bore a good crop last year (1885). 



Warren Chase, also of Fowlerville, has two Standard pears forty-two years 

 old, which bear well every year. 



The Livingston County Agricultural Society was organized February 24th, 

 1853. At the annual fair of 1867 the society reported a large display of 

 fruit. Joseph Brown, of Marion, showed forty-one varieties of apples, and 

 other farmers exhibited many kinds. Fine displays were also made of pears 

 and grapes. 



During the summer of 1871 the county was sorely afliicted with drought. 



The people of Brighton, in 1874, doubtless encouraged by improved trade, 

 consequent upon the then recent construction of the Detroit, Lansing & 



