342 GENERAL HISTORY. 



the table was bountifully supplied with delicious strawberries; and a short 

 time afterwards he saw the table supplied with the same kind of choice fruit, 

 when he remarked to the lady that they must have a large number of plants 

 to gather from. 'Yes,' she replied, 'we have a dozen ' He thought if such 

 supplies of fruit could be produced from a dozen plants, it might be profita- 

 ble to raise them in larger quantities ; so he became the agent for the eastern 

 grower of the plants, and introduced them into many gardens at Saginaw." 



The S.igitiaw County Agricultural Society was organized in 1868. 



In 1^74 the orchard committee of the State Pomological Society visited and 

 examined the garden of E F. Guild, of East Saginaw, upon which the report 

 was highly complimentary, and to which a first premium was awarded. 



An examination was at the same time made of the vineyard of John C. 

 Zeigler, upon a city lot at Saginaw City, to which a first premium was also 

 awarded. 



The joint annual fair of the State Agricultural and Pomological Societies 

 was held at East Saginaw on September 14 h to lOih, 1874, and again on the 

 same grounds on September 13th to 17th, 1875 



These successive exhibitions, whatever the financial results may have been, 

 were very full and satisfactory, so far as the horticultural displays were con- 

 cerned. The exhibits were large and excellent, and ihat of vegetables was 

 large and of superior quality. 



The following awards of the orchard committee of the State Pomological 

 Society for 1875 were made to residents of Saginaw county: — 



To E. F. Guild, of East Saginaw, first premium, for a small fruit garden. 



To Mrs. Amos Parkes, of East Saginaw, first premium for a private plant 

 house. 



To J. Dyckmann, of East Saginaw, first premium for a commercial plant 

 house. 



To Elias H. Wurtz, of East Saginaw, first premium for a farm plat devot- 

 ed to market gardening. 



To. Mrs. L. P. Mason and Mrs. D. F. Rose, of East Saginaw, first premi- 

 ums for flower gardens. 



In September and October, 1876, E. F. Guild, of East Saginaw, contributed 

 a choice collection of grapes to the exhibit of the State Pomological Society, 

 made at the Centennial World's Exposition, at Philadelphia. 



E. F. Guild, of East Saginaw ( >lich. l^om. Trans., p. 174-5,) says: 'The 

 Saginaws furnish an excellent market for all horticultural products, and they 

 import very largely to supply the home demand. There is an excellent field 

 here for skilled fruit growers. Apples, plums, grapes, pears, quinces and 

 small fruits all do admirably. The market garden interest is b'SC developed, 

 and illustrates what may be done here. The finest vegetables in tlie State 

 are grown here, as witness the premiums at State fairs whenever Saginaw 

 has competed. Lands are not exorbitant in price, but need to be well select- 

 ed, and drainage i^i an important item, as most of the soil is a heavy clay 

 loam." 



According to the census of 1884 Saginaw county had of apple orchards, 4,- 

 959 acres, 99,^84 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 53, "^40 bushels of fruit. 



Peach orchards, 10 acres, 151 bearing trees, yie ding in 1883, 105 bushels of 

 fruit. 



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

 137,738.00. 



