SUMMER MEETING, 1879. 75 



larsjer or more extensive. From tlie iiortli side of Muskegon lake the view 

 embraces the city of Muskegon, its handsome court liouse, its higli school 

 building, its numerous churclies, its many fine residences, while along the 

 banks of the lake for 10 miles or more are saw mills, boarding houses and 

 cottages, the whole making a picture of American life that lias a fuller 

 characteristic expression at tliis point than at any other in the country. 

 Steamers arrive and depart each day. Sail vessels come, are loaded in almost 

 an hour, and depart. The population has increased 1,000 at least this season. 

 There is no idleness; steam and smoke arise from a long line of pipes and 

 chimnevs. 



It was here that the Pomological Society, on invitation, pitched its tent. 

 Mr. Holt, Mr. Peck, Mr. Kuddiman, Mr. Whitney and others believed it well 

 to cherish a little the horticultural and agricultural idea. The time is com- 

 ing, some years distant, when the Muskegon river will refuse to deliver its 

 annual crop of pine logs, four hundred million, and it is well to look forward 

 to the future. 



The orchards and vineyards around Muskegon Lake are not unknown. We 

 noticed a fine vineyard owned by Mr. B. Moulton, containing at least 11 acres 

 of well cultivated vines. Mr. Euddiman's old residence, at the mouth of Bear 

 Lake, is the center of as good a fruit district as may be wished, and here were 

 cherries, ]-)eaches, small fruits and flowers, with exemption from early or late 

 frosts. The country is provided with strawberry patches and plantations ag- 

 gregating 500 acres planted to this popular fruit. The owners were busy with 

 the pickers, gathering and shipping the harvest. 



FRUIT PROSPECTS. 



On Tuesday evening at eight o'clock President T. T. Lyon called the Society 

 to order and the Secretary read a number of letters from various parts of the 

 state giving accounts of the fruit prospects. Among which were the following : 



GRATIOT COUNTY. 



W. 0. Fritz writes : 



*'I am glad to report every thing more favorable in the fruit line than usual 

 at this season ; apples, peaches, plums, grapes, and cherries promise an abund- 

 ance, small fruits were never better. We have had some late frosts but ap- 

 parently little injury has resulted." 



BENZIE COUNTY. 



John J. Hubbell writes : 



'* iVpples as a rule blossomed lightly but the fruit is well set, which is favor- 

 able for the vitality of the trees. Most of our bearing orchards are young and 

 set for family use, but of late a large number of orchards have been set for 

 market pui'poses containing only standard sorts; these are not in bearing but 

 look healthy and thrifty. 



Peaches, old trees which were on favorable sites, and all young trees grown 

 since 18?5 are set full of fruit. The trees are healthy and no sign of yellows. 

 When this disease drives the peach-growers out of the southern lake region let 

 them look up Benzie county ; we have much high land, good soil, within the lake 

 lake influence and convenient to Frankfort harbor, where peaches always have 

 done and will do well, and being so isolated from the great peach-growing belt, 



