358 GENERAL HISTORY. 



The county is yet comparatively new, Hersey, the oldest town, being only 

 about twenty years of age, Reed City not far from seventeen years and Evarfc 

 not quite as old. 



An Osceola County Agricultural Society was organized in 1867. 



An Osceola County Horticultural Society was organized in 1886 which 

 works in harmony with the former in the promotion of interests common 

 to both. 



At the first the growing of fruit was, to a great extent, an experiment, so 

 far at least as introduced varieties were concerned. 



Another serious drawback was flooding the county with worthless nursery 

 stock. 



Many also make the mistake of planting too closely, often less than twenty 

 feet apart. 



The recently introduced Russian varieties of fruits prove hardy and suc- 

 cessful here. 



Hardy varieties of peaches have occasionally ripened here; but, as a rule, 

 the peach and the quince require protection in winter. 



The Concord and other hardy grapes succeed, if protected during winter. 



The strawberry is quite at home here, and many other small fruits grow 

 wild so abundantly that there is little occasion for their cultivation. 



Spring frosts are a discouragement, since the ground does not become 

 frozen in winter, and growth therefore commences early. The remedy lies 

 in planting with a northern aspect, removing the snow to permit freezing, or 

 perhaps in mulching. 



Messrs. Gooch and Blodgett have upon their places some fine ornamental 

 trees noAV eighteen or twenty years of age. 



Two beautiful maple groves have been preserved on the outskirts of Reed 

 City. 



The setting of shade trees along streets and highways is being encouraged 

 and private grounds and lawns in villages are being ornamented and other- 

 wise improved. 



The census of 1884 reports in Osceola county, of 



Apple orchards, 1,172 acres, 8,929 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 1,716 

 bushels of fruit. 



Peach orchards, 71 acres, 60 bearing trees, yielding in 1883, 412 bushels of 

 fruit. 



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

 $2,447.00. 



Vineyards, one acre: grapes sold in 1883, none. 



wine made in 1883, none. 



Xurseries, three acres; products sold in 1883, 835.00. 



Market garden products sold in 1883, 12,273.00. 



This county has an elevation of from five hundred to seven hundred feet 

 above the waters of the surrounding lakes, Huron and Michigan. 



LAKE COUNTY. 



This county was set off as Aishcum county, by Legislative enactment, 

 approved April Ist, 1840. The name was changed to Lake by the act under 

 which it was organized. 



