390 GENERAL HISTORY. 



the present autumu, was on the ;^2d of October. The small fruits can un-- 

 doubtedly be grown here in great abundance." 



A Leelanaw County Agricultural Society was organized in 1868. At its 

 first fair, which occurred on October 20th and 21st of that year, a superior 

 exhibit of fruits and vegetables was made. 



The annual report for that year claims a fair yield of apples and a good 

 crop of peaches ; a very dry season, with no rain to benefit vegetation, from 

 June 5th to July 29th. 



In 1871 peaches were a good crop, as were apples also; although somewhat 

 injured by drouth. Spriug is generally late, but when it opens fruits and 

 vegetation generally are safe from frost. The curculio has, for two or three 

 seasons past, been very destructive to plums. 



In a communication to the State Pomological Society in 1872, George 

 Parmelee says of Laelanaw county: '"^ At Northport there are a number of 

 promising young peach orchards, of from five to ten acres, j)robably fifty 

 acres within convenient distance from the dock; some quite large bearing 

 apple, pear, cherry, plum and peach trees, are almost every year propped and 

 tied up under crops of as beautiful and luscious fruits as ever gladdened the 

 heart of man. There are some young apple orchards, near the light-house, 

 which are a credit to the farmers who own them, for it would be hard to beat 

 them in the State. A gentleman of this village is preparing to plant an 

 apple orchard of one hundred acres. 



" At New Mission, six miles south of Northport, are some large fruit trees 

 that have attracted much notice. In the vicinity of Sutton's bay, and a few 

 miles south of it, are some first-class young orchards. Near Traverse City is- 

 a forty acre orchard of apple and peach that has commenced bearing, and 

 quite a number are younger and less in extent. There is also a very success- 

 ful vineyard near by, and many yards with a few vines." 



At the fifth annual fair of the Grand Traverse Union Agricultural Society 

 on October 8th to 10th, 1873, the State Pomological Society was in attend- 

 ance as a guest. J. P. Thompson, secretary, in the volume of "Transactions" 

 for that year, speaks substantially as follows of the exhibit from Leelenaw 

 county : — 



The collection from Leelenaw county was not a whit behind its neighbors, 

 while in some specimens it surpassed all others. C. V. Miller, of New Mis- 

 sion, had twenty-three varieties of apples. A plate of Northern Spy was the 

 finest of the show. The Oldenburg was very popular, appeariug in all the 

 collections. The Alexander, showy and brilliant, usually rated third in 

 quality, is here reckoned number one. Sweet Bough, of gigantic propor- 

 tions, still retains a portion of its summer flavor. Mr. Miller esteems the 

 Baldwin as the most profitable for his section. It matures well, stands the 

 winter and is profitable for all purposes. The Flemish Beauty and Bartlett 

 pears were unmistakable. Quinces also prove profitable. 



Among other persons we met 0. L. White, A. B. Dunlap and Solomon 

 Steele, from Northport. They describe the soil along the streams as a lime- 

 stone gravel, claiming that the soil, with the water protection, renders the 

 county among the best in the State for the culture of fruit. 



Peter Gustaff, of Northport, has an orchard of seventy-five plum trees, 

 five years old, that have produced thirty bushels of fruit within the past two 

 yeari, selling readily at 13.50 per bushel. He says the curculio has discov- 

 ered him, and must be fought. 



