GRATIOT COUNTY. 343 



Vineyards, 47 acres: grapes sold in 1883, 14.789 pounds, 



wine made in 1883, 3,294 gallons. 

 Nurseries, one acre; products sold in 1883, $3,500.00. 

 ftiarket garden products sold in 1883, 8:^0,478.00. 



GRATIOT COUNTY. 



This county was set off by act of the Territorial Legislature, approved 

 March 2d, 1831. 



It was organized under the provisions of an act of the State Legislature, 

 approved February 3(1, 1855. 



The county was named from Fort Gratiot, which formerly stood at the 

 foot of Lake Huron. 



The county seat is at Ithaca. 



The Gratiot County Agricultural Society was organized in 1866. 



In 1869 few apple orchards were yet in bearing, although farmers were 

 planting them extensively. It was claimed to be a good peach region. 



At the winter meeting of the State Pomological Society, held at Lansing, 

 on February 18th to 20th, 1879, W. 0. Fritz, of Pompeii, remarked : "The 

 prospt'ct for a large crop of fruit, especially apples, in this section, is quite 

 flattering at this time ; this statement being modified by the neglect which 

 peach trees receive. A great many trees have been killed, others ruined by 

 the b'-rer. Since the cold weather four or five years ago, very few peach 

 tre 8 have been planted. Cherry and plum trees are not so plentiful as in 

 other sections. Our county is c mparatively new, and the fruit interest has 

 been sadly neglected (I might pos-ibly except apples). But as regards apples 

 we will not take a back seat until we have a fair trial at least. One of our 

 citizens has, on one occasion at least, sold Northern Spy apples, in Ithaca, 

 on tlie 4th nf July. 



Some of the grape-vines seem to be diseased. I think, from a passing ob- 

 servation, that tne phylloxera is in our midst. I will examine more closely. 

 This winter has been steady ; the coldesf 8"^ or 10'^ below zero." 



According to the census of 1884 this county h .d, of 



Apple orchards, 5,208 acres, 105,071 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 

 52,120 bushels of fruit. 



Peach orchards, 24 acres^ 1,281 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 39 bushels 

 of fruit. 



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

 $29,55 .00. 



Vineyards, 16 acres: grapes sold in 1883, 480 pounds. 



wine made in 1883, 22 gallons. 



Nurseries, 3 acres; products sold in 1883, S235.00. 



Market garden products s dd in 1883, $1,21d.OO. 



