338 GENERAL HISTORY. 



orchards being young, there is not a surplus for market, few farmers having 

 more than enough for their own use; but enough has been done to show, 

 beyond dispute, that apples succeed remarkably well, and may be raised utiy- 

 where in the county. Peaches w. re unusually plenty wherever the necessary 

 attention has been paid tD the cultivation of the trees. Pears, plums, cherries 

 and other small fruits are cultivated to a considerable extent, and their cult- 

 ure the past year has been rewarded with a fair degree of success." 



In 1870 the report states: "Apples were not perhaps as abundant as in 

 some former seasons, still there was a fair crop, both in quantity and quality. 

 Peaches were very scarce, owing probably to the excessive crop of the previous 

 year. Small fruits of most kinds were plenty and of good qiKility. We notice 

 a very commendable discretion used very generally throughout the countv in 

 selection of choice varieties of fruits. Little or no poor fruit is r.iised, and 

 trees bearing inferior sorts are very properly rejected." 



The report of 1871 goes on to say: "As the fact becomes definitely 

 settled that fruit can be successfully raised in the county, there is apparently 

 more interest in its culture. Approved sorts are selected for setting, more 

 care is exercised in pruning, in cultivating the soil, and in the general ma i- 

 agement of the orchard. A small plat in each garden, set apart for small 

 fruits, would, if properly attended to, yield a large amount of delicious food 

 for those who are disposed to ^ake the necessary trouble. The apple croi» was 

 not as large or as perfect in quality as la some former years, owing, no d mbt, 

 to the unusual drought prevailing so large a part of the season. The pear 

 crop was a very good one." 



Coming down to 1883 we find the following report: — 



"Apples were not more than twenty per cent of an average crop. In a few 

 favored localities the peach crop was quite good; in others almost or quite a 

 failure. With the exception of plums the smaller fruits were nearly an 

 average crop." 



The quotation from C. W. Garfield's " Brief of Horticulture," in the history 

 of Sanilac, applies equally to Tuscola county. 



According to the census of 1884 the county has of 



Apple orchards, 5,830 acres, 131,503 bearing trees, yielding, in 1883, 73,783 

 bushels of fruit. 



Peach orchards, 157 acres, 3,886 bearing trees, yielding, in 1883, 2,4!6 

 bushels of fruit. 



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

 $45,014.00. 



Vineyards, 9 acres: grapes sold in 1883. 3,555 pounds. 



wine made in 1883, 213 gallons. 



Nurseries, none; products sold in 1883. $154.00. 



Market garden products sold in 1883, 11,037.00. 



SAGINAW COUNTY. 



Saginaw county was laid off by proclamation of Governor Lewis Cass, 

 bearing date September 10th, 1822", including portions of what are now Mid- 

 land, Bay and Genesee counties. Prior to the completion of its organiza ion 

 it was a dependency of Oakland county. 



