ALLEGAN COUNTY. 297 



Very soon after was commenced the planting of seedling peaches. 



A short time after this Arba N". Crawford settled upon the lake shore in 

 southwest Ganges, near where Glenn postoffice is now located, and as soon as 

 a little clearing was made in the forest, trees were planted. 



Settlers came in, and trees also, mostly apples, until the rebellion broke 

 out. About that time people began to turn their attention to other fruits. 

 McCormick and V. R. Wadsworth planted peach orchards about 1864 on a 

 large scale. 



About fifteen years since the Chicago and West Michigan railroad was built, 

 and gave us an outlet for our fruit. About the same time the steamera 

 started upon the lake. Then farmers generally turned their attention to fruit 

 growing, a large share of it peaches. 



Almost every farmer now has a peach orchard, varying in number of trees 

 from a few hundred to five and even ten thousand. There are large numbers 

 of fine apple orchards, and a few of pears and plums ; also small fruit, berry, 

 grape and cherry plantations ; but peaches are the main crop. 



V. R. Wadsworth relates that when a boy. crossing the lakes, he picked up 

 and pocketed the peach pits thrown upon the deck of the sailing vessel by 

 more fortunate passengers, who were able to afferd the luxury. These he 

 planted on his father's (James W. Wadswortb's) farm. From these sprang 

 the first peach trees upon the farm, located in the vicinity now known as 

 "Peach belt." 



Before the rrar small "hookers" (boats) sometimes came to Saugatuck,. 

 and carried thence small loads of peaches, half-grown and "fuzzy," to sell in 

 the more northern markets among the lumbermen. Their arrival was hailed 

 by the pioneers as a good opportunity to dispose of a few surplus peaches,^ 

 although they usually carried apples. 



The foregoing gives but slight indication of the productiveness of these 

 extensive orchards, or of the amount of labor and consequent care and system 

 required for their succesful management. As a means of illustrating these, 

 the following quotation respecting the orchards of Mr. Harrison Hutchius is 

 extracted from the Allegan Gazette: — 



The largest peach orchard in this State, so far as known, is situated upon section 1 in 

 the township of Ganges, and is owned by Mr. Harrison Hutchins, one of Ganges' earli- 

 est settlers. It covers ninety acres, of which about seventy are in bearing, and is under 

 the management of his son, Henry H. Hutchins, who owns a sixty-acre farm, thirty 

 acres of which are set to peach trees, making upward of one hundred and sixty acres 

 of orchard, including twenty acres of apple orchard, under the direct control of this 

 gentleman. 



A person travehng through this large orchard for the first time, without a guide, 

 stands as good a chance of becoming lost as he would were he taking his first trip 

 through New York City. The different varieties are set out in blocks, and a map of the 

 orchard hangs in the office, so that there is no difficulty in finding any desired variety. 

 Almost every tree in bearing was well loaded this year, and ]Mr. Hutchins estimates his 

 crop at from 35,000 to 40,000 baskets. 



The affairs of the orchard are superintended by Mr. Harry Morrison, and the boys 

 under his charge unite in proclaiming " Uncle Harry" a first-rate overseer. 



The fruit is carefully picked and emptied into bushel baskets, which when filled are 

 loaded upon a low wagon built especially for the purpose, and drawn to the packing 

 house, where their contents are emptied upon the packing tables, at which stand the 

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