334 GENERAL HISTORY. 



was stated that " The fruit crop here has been a fair one with the exception 

 of apples, which were a small crop. The rose bug did considerable damage 

 during the fore part of the season, and the thrips injured the grape crop to 

 some extent. The present prospect for a crop next season is good." 



A society known as the Grand Haven Fruit Growers' Association has 

 existed for several years at Grand Haven, which reports annually as an 

 auxiliary to the State Horticultural Society. Its report for the year 1883 

 states: *•' That the main incentive to the formation of this association was 

 the fact that by cooperation we could obtain our fruit stock and packages at 

 reduced rates, which has beei> very satisfactorily demonstrated. The utmost 

 good feeling has prevailed on the part of the members, and, on the whole, 

 it may be said that socially, morally and financially we are in a healthy con- 

 dition." 



In a ''Brief of Horticulture," Secretary C. E. Russell, of the Grand 

 Haven society, says : " It will be noticed by referring to our map that this 

 county lies against the great lake at its widest part. Grand river flows 

 across it, and at its mouth lies Grand Haven and Spring Lake. The last 

 mentioned town is not directly at the mouth of the river, but at the mouth 

 of a lake from which it gets its name. This is a beautiful sheet of water, 

 very deep and clear, and fruit farms are located on either side of it, each 

 having its separate dock, at which a little steamer calls several times each 

 day and takes the products to larger steamers at the wharf, whence they are 

 conveyed, in six hours' time, to Chicago or Milwaukee. 



"Peaches and small fruits are the specialties of this vicinity, although 

 considerable quantities of vegetables are gro-wn for the western markets. 

 Holland, which lies in the southwest part of the county, is a shipping point 

 for large quantities of peaches." 



In the fall of 1884 the Spring Lake society reports that: ''Frosts and 

 other causes destroyed many of the grapes, and nearly all the peach crop. 



" The society has taken great interest in the cultivation of small fruits and 

 choice grapes. These fruits have been the main subjects of discussion at 

 the meetings. Peaches have had a place, but do not return an annual profit 

 because of the severity of the past two winters." 



In 1885 the report of the Spring Lake society states that peach trees came 

 through the past hard winter in better condition than was anticipated, but 

 that growers are turning their attention largely to the growing of small 

 fruits, also that the cut worm and army worm were quite abundant and de- 

 stroyed a large number of young plants. - • - -■■ -~;^ 



The orchard committees of the State Pomological Society awarded pre- 

 miums to citizens of Ottawa county as follows : — 



In 1871 : To Hunter Savidge, Spring Lake, first premium for an apple 

 orchard. 



To Lyman Hall, Fruitport, first premium for a peach orchard. 



To W. B. Mason, Fruitport, first premium for a peach orchard. 



To A. L. Soule, Fruitport, first premium for a peach orchard. 



To A. L. Soule, Fruitport, first premium for a cherry orchard. 



To Thomas Petty, Fruitport, first premium for a vineyard in bearing. 



To Thomas Petty, Fruitport, first premium for a Concord vineyard. 



In 1872: To Charles Alford, Lamont, second premium for an apple orchard. 



To Charles Alford, Lamont, second premium for a collection of varieties of 

 apple trees. 



