534 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



WEXFORD COUNTY HORTICULTUUAL SOCIETY. 



KEPOKTBD BY SECRETARY LEWIS. 

 OFFICERS FOR 1887. 



President— T. W. Crosby. 

 Secretary — Elmer Lewis. 

 treasurer — J. W. Van Ostraud. 



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This society, although only two years old, has a membership of fifty and 

 has held six meetings during the year; it is fortunate in having free access 

 to the court rooms for its meetings. At the August meeting the society had 

 a very fine exhibit of apples: Yellow Transparent, Red Astrachan, Olden- 

 burg, Tetofsky, Summer Queen and other varieties. The above named 

 varieties all do well here, being hardy enough to stand the winters on low, 

 level land. While on the range of hills forming the divide between the 

 Manistee and Muskegon rivers, any variety that can be raised in southern 

 Michigan does exceedingly well. Small fruits are right at home in this 

 county. For raspberries our growers have found the Ohio, the Shaffer and 

 the Souhegan to be the most satisfactory both as to quality and hardiness. 

 For strawberries we prefer the Manchester, fertilized with the Vick, because 

 both being late in putting forth their blossoms they escape the late frosts; 

 and also for the reason that Southern berries are gone at their time of ripen- 

 ing. The Sharpless, Crescent, Wilson and other early varieties do well on 

 rolling land. The berry crop was good this season, and nearly two Aveeks 

 earlier than last season. Prices ranged from 6c for Wilsons to 10 and 12^ 

 for Manchester, Sharpless, Vick, etc. 



Our society has voted the apple tree man out and purchased their nursery 

 stock direct from a reliable grower at a saving of 75 per cent, saying nothing 

 of the pleasure of getting what they order. The society made an exhibit of 

 upwards of 100 plates of fruit at the State fair in September. However it 

 did not do our county justice as an exhibit for the reason that we had not 

 sufficient help on the committee appointed to make the collection ; and for 

 the further reason that our local express agent neglected sending it when 

 ordered. Consequently it did not reach Jackson in as good condition as it 

 otherwise would. We propose to do better next time. 



The reports of the State Society are eagerly sought for by members and 

 much information obtained. It is a book of no small value to the fruit 

 grower or to the farmer. Our society is composed of both city and country 

 people. Our city people are awake to their interests in beautifying their 

 homes and of aiding the farmers in their vicinity in supporting what all 

 wide awake citizens can see is a great benefit to the county, the Wexford 

 County Horticultural Society. 



