GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY. 375 



Judge Ramsdell, of Traverse City, at one time had as many as seven 

 hundred, or perhaps one thousand, trees, which yielded immense crops — too 

 much, perhaps, for their future prosperity. 



Peaches are also grown with considerable success at Judge Ramsdell's, and 

 perhaps at other places, on quite elevated, and to some extent sheltered, 

 grounds. 



The grape has also been grown hero with a good degree of success, the 

 shortness of the season being, to some extent, compensated by the greater 

 length of the days, as well as by the greater exemption from autumnal frosts, 

 due to the proximity of Grand Traverse bay ana Lake Michigan. 



A nursery was established about the year 18G6 by Mr. Joseph Archer, and 

 another two or three years later by Tuttle and Savage, and still later yet 

 another by C. T, Avery, but all have been discontinued. 



The greatest obstacle to the raising of nursery stock here seems to be that 

 the deep snows of winter are very liable to break down the trunks and 

 branches of young trees. 



There are several seedling apple trees in Peninsula of unknown origin, 

 probably fully one hundred years old, but still healthy and productive. The 

 fruit of some of them is of excellent quality. 



George Eoberts, of Old Mission, has a fine grove, mostly of sugar maples, 

 covering about six acres. Many farmers also have planted trees along the 

 highways, but there is a lamentable need of attention to the beautifying of 

 the surroundings of school-houses, churches and cemeteries. 



The elevation of the lands on the peninsula varies from one hundred to 

 perhaps three hundred feet above the waters of the bay. 



The delightful summer climate of this region, the purity of the water, the 

 great diversity of surface, and the conveniences for pleasant excursions over 

 its extensive laud-locked waters, are attracting an unusually increased atten- 

 tion to it, as one of the most desirable of summer resorts for needed rest and 

 recreation. 



For most of the particulars above mentioned the writer is indebted to a 

 committee of the Peninsula Farmers' Club, consisting of J. M. Pratt and E. 

 P. and E. 0. Ladd. 



With the exception of the year 1856 the peach trees planted at Old Mission 

 by Rev. Peter Dougherty did not fail to bear fruit for nineteen years. 



In 1865 the first killing frost on the peninsula occurred as late as December 

 2d, in 1866 on November 15th, and in 1867 on November 18th. 



Under date of January, 1855, John S. Dixon foreshadows the future of this 

 region as follows : ''All experience goes to prove that this will be a great fruit 

 country. The Indian apple and peach trees, though few in number, bear 

 well every year. As for wild raspberries and blackberries, both as to size and 

 flavor, there is absolutely no end. They serve all the inhabitants and mil- 

 lions of pigeons for several months." 



The table lands of this county rise from two hundred to four and perhaps 

 five hundred feet above Grand Traverse bay. 



The late Sanford Howard, at the time secretary of the State Board of Agri- 

 culture, who visited this region in 1867, says : " On the grounds of Mr. 

 Marshall, near Old Mission, there are fine vines of the Catawba, Isabella, 

 Concord, Delaware, lona, etc., and the Catawba has not failed to ripen per- 

 fectly for the last four years." 



W. S. Hubbell, president of the Benzie Agricultural Society, says : "Judge 



