IONIA COUNTY. 315 



On April 24th, 1880, the South Boston Horticultural Society was organized 

 in the town of Boston, near the west line of Ionia county. More or less of 

 the members were residents of the adjacent county of Kent. The society 

 held several meetings during the year, and much interest was manifested ; 

 but the interest seems not to have been permanently maintained. Since its 

 report for 1882 nothing has been heard from the society, which seems to have 

 transferred its interest to the grange. 



The Ionia County Horticultural Society was organized March 25th, 1882. 



The State Horticultural Society held its summer meeting at Ionia, on June 

 26th and 27th, 1883, at the invitation of the county society, with a good 

 attendance from abroad, although the local attendance was sadly interfered 

 with by almost constant rains. 



In " A Brief of Horticulture," Mr. Le Valley says: For a period of thirty 

 years the peach trees about Ionia have borne twenty-one crops, so that even 

 at this distance from the lake, in favorable locations, peaches can be profit- 

 ably grown. The most approved methods of culture is to select, in the begin- 

 ning, a site that has the best air drainage and excellent soil, thereafter, de- 

 pend upon good cultivation rather that stimulating manures. 



Owing to the necessity of the tedious fight with the curculio, not enough 

 plums are grown to supply the home demand. 



Large quantities of grapes are grown and are found profitable. Mr. Le 

 Valley thinks that grapes will prove more profitable than wheat, even if sold 

 at not more than two cents per pound. He advises the liberal use of ashes as 

 a fertilizer. 



The following is extracted from the Detroit Tribune of September 30th, 

 1876. Such an undertaking, even under very favorable auspices, may be 

 fairly regarded a bold one, in a direction in which ultimate success is usually 

 considered quite problematical: — 



The silk factory at Beldmg is neai-ing completion. The building is 45x160 feet. In 

 addition to this building there will be a boiler house 19x34 feet. The factory will be 

 built entirely of brick, with a composition roof. The first floor wiU be of concrete and 

 cement. It is to be three stories high and will cost, exclusive of machinery, |12,000. 

 A tower 16x18 will grace the front of the building, and will also serve as the main 

 entrance. The factory, when ready to commence operations, will give employment to 

 between 200 and 300 hands, a good share of which will be imported labor. 



Ionia county, according to the census of 1884, has of 



Apple orchards, 8,366 acres, 262,693 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 121,733 

 bushels of fruit. 



Peach orchards, 586 acres, 43,007 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 9,015 

 bushels of fruit. 



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

 172,103. 



Vineyards, 47 acres: grapes sold in 1883, 14,755 pounds. 



wine made in 1883, 44 gallons. 



Nurseries, 6 acres ; products sold in 1883, $504. 



Market garden products sold in 1883, $5,028. 



