ONTONAGON COUNTY. 409 



" Hardy and early varieties of apples, Morello cherries, currants and straw- 

 berries, with proper cultivation, are successful and yield a fair return for the 

 expenditure of money and labor. 



** The old fruit trees which were upon the fur company's grounds when I 

 came here are now dead, and young trees fill their places. 



" The only notable plantation of trees, for park or cemetery purposes, are 

 at the Methodist mission. 



*' Formerly it was not supposed that the larger fruits could be successfully 

 grown here, but, from my experience, hardy and early varieties of apples, 

 plums and cherries will succeed. Pears may be regarded as less certain." 



The census of 1884 reports, in Baraga county, of apple orchards 12 acres, 

 101 bearing trees, yielding, in 1883, 81 bushels of fruit. 



Peach orchards, none. 



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

 $94.00. 



Vineyards, none. 



Nurseries, none. 



Market garden products sold in 1883, $3,400.00. 



HOUGHTON COUNT'S. 



Houghton county was laid off by act of the Legislature approved March 

 19th, 1845. By the provisions of such act its territory extended eastward to 

 the west line of Schoolcraft county. 



Houghton, the county seat, south of Portage lake, was laid out in 1852. 



Both were named for Douglas Houghton, who lost his life by drowning 

 while exploring this region as State geologist. 



Some mining had been done in the Portage lake region as early as 1846 ; 

 but the discovery of its real value has been largely due to the persistency of 

 the late Kansom Shelden. Its subsequent development has been greatly aided 

 by the Improvement Company, whose labors have been instrumental in open- 

 ing to navigation the shallow outlet of the lake. 



Of the development of its horticultural capacities little information is at 

 hand, although it is probably true that the wants of the local population are 

 largely supplied from products grown here, at least, so far as vegetables are 

 concerned. 



The census reports no horticultural products, except the single item of 

 market garden products, of which the value sold in 1883 was 11,150.00. 



ONTONAGON COUNTY. 



This county was laid off by act of the Legislature, approved March 9th, 

 1843, under the name Ontonagon, and was made to include Isle Koyale and 

 the adjacent islands. 



Its boundaries were changed by an act approved April 3d, 1848, by the 

 omission of Isle Eoyale. 



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