346 GENERAL HISTORY. 



Many of the foregoing facts are derived from Hon. H. H. Holt's "Cen- 

 tennial Hist ry of Muskegon." (Pio. Col., vol. 1, p. 286.) The following 

 letter, giving a history of fruit culture in this region, is inserted entire: — 



Muskegon, Mich., May 29th, 1886. 



T. T. Lyon, Esq. , President State Horticultural Society: 



Dear Sir:— In reply to yoiir late request for information in regard to the history of 

 horticulture in this county, I will say that there were a few apple and peach trees in 

 this city that were planted by the early Indian traders, which were in bearing when 

 lumbering first began here, and of which there is no information to be obtained as to 

 the date of planting, or by whom planted. These trees were in bearing in 1840, and 

 were in good condition until they w^ere removed some ten years since, to make room 

 for buildings. Some of these peach trees bore fruit nearly every year for more than, 

 thirty years. The first attempt at planting an orchard in this county was made by 

 George Ruddiman, who removed to this city, or what is now this city, April 30th, 1840, 

 and who still resides here. He sent to Rochester, N. Y., for an assortment of fruit 

 trees, which reached here in the spring of 1848, coming by sail vessel, by the way of 

 Chicago, in very fair condition. The orchard was planted upon the premises now 

 owned by A. S. Montgomery, near his steam saw-mill, and occupied by Thos. BUston. 

 Among the trees planted at that time, now living, are eighteen apple trees, one pear 

 tree, fourteen cherry trees and three plum trees, most of which are in excellent bear- 

 ing condition. Among the apple trees are five Baldwins that have never failed of a 

 good crop of fruit by reason of frot^t or cold weather in winter. Some of these Bald- 

 wins are nearly a foot in diameter at the ground, and there is everything to indicate- 

 that they are still in their prime. The cherry trees are Black Tartarian, Bigarreau and 

 other good varieties, and are large, healthy trees. Mr. Elston informed me yesterday 

 that the cherries from one tree alone sold for twenty -three dollars last season. The- 

 plum trees are healthy, one of them, a Washington, being at least six inches in diameter.^ 



But few shad^e trees were planted in this city previous to 1860, since which date a 

 great number have been planted, mostly maples and elms, most of which have had a 

 most remarkable growth. Indeed, it is my opinion that if a census of the shade trees 

 of the cities of the State were to be taken, no city could excel Muskegon, either in the 

 number of trees or in their condition of healthy growth; the soil, it seems, being just 

 such an one as they require. 



Yours truly, 



HENRY H. HOLT. 



The Ottawa and Muskegon Agricultural Society was organized in 1856 



The agriculture of Muskegon county, however, had not become sufficiently 

 developed to induce the organization of a Muskegon society till the year 

 1875. 



At the first annual fair of the State Pomological Society, held with that of 

 the Kt-nt County Agricultural Society, at Grand Rapids, September 27th to 

 30th, 1870, Professor C. L. Whitney, of Muskegon, exhibited two hundred 

 varieties of plants and flowers, the product of his greenhouses a' that city. 



The orchard committee of the State Pomological Society for 1871 awarded 

 a first premium to C. L. Whitney, of Muskegon, for a flower garden. 



Also to C. S. Shepherd, of the same place, a first premium, for an acre of 

 strawberries. 



