KENT COUNTY. 325 



barrels, reckoned by thousands, were also shipped from the neighboring 

 villages of Ada and Sarauac. 



One peach orchard, planted by Matthew Hart, in 1880, containing one 

 thousand trees, has yielded a net income of from $400 to $1,000 annually, for 

 a number of years, and has seldom failed to bear a good crop of fruit. This 

 orchard is still standing and promises a good yield of fruit next season. 

 The peach orchard of the writer, including about twenty-five acres, pro- 

 duced, in 1883, a net return of $2,450. 



At a moderate estimate there are ten thousand acres of land within ten 

 miles of Lowell village well adapted to the growing of peaches. Abovit twelve 

 hundred acres are now planted. 



In the autumn of 1883 the Grand Eiver Valley Horticultural Society made 

 an attractive exhibit at the State fair, and also at that of the West Michigan 

 Society; besides which, its members con tribut'r'd freely to the State display 

 of fruits at the New Orleans Exposition, held during the winter of 1882 and 

 1883. 



In June, 1885, the society held a very interesting and profitable meeting 

 at the residence of P. W. Johnson, three miles northwest of Grand Rapids, in 

 the season of strawberries, and another in raspberry time at the residence of 

 0. W. Garfield. 



A special meeting of the society was held on August 29th to perfect arrange- 

 ments for the meeting of the American Pomological Society, to occur at 

 Grand Rapids, September 9tli to 11th. The arrangements for this meeting: 

 were very complete and satisfactory to both residents and visitors, who seem 

 to have gained a highly favorable impression resj)ecting the city, the people 

 and the State. 



On November 30th to December 2d, 1886, the annual meeting of the State 

 Horticultural Society was again held at Grand Rapids, upon the invitation of 

 the Grand River Valley Horticultural Society. The arrangements for the 

 meeting were very complete and satisfactory, and the fruits, flowers and plants 

 unusually varied and the quality superior. The flower and plant exhibit was^ 

 unusually fine, including a large and superior display of chrysanthemums la 

 bloom, together with specimens of sub-tropical vegetation, as well as fruits, 

 from California. 



The following awards were made to citizens of Kent county by the orchard, 

 committees of the State Pomological Society : — 



Iif 1871. 



To Noah P. Eusted, Lowell, first premium, for plum orchard. 



To David Robertson, Grand Rapids, first premium, for Delaware vineyard. 



To George S. Linderman, Grand Rapids, first premium, for a half-acre plat 

 of raspberries. 



To George S. Linderman, Grand Rapids, first preminoi, for a half-acre plat 

 of blackberries. 



To Mrs. E. T. Nelson, Grand Rapids, first premium, for a private conserv- 

 atory. 



To John Suttle, Grand Rapids, first premium, for a general greenhouse. 



In 1872. 

 To S. B. Smith, Grand Rapids, first premium, for an apple orchard. 



