102 KEPOKT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 



the premium to encourage the growing of a large number of 

 varieties. 



GRATTAN. 



The township which won this sweepstakes is 22 miles north- 

 east of Grand Rapids — north of Vergennes — and joins Ionia 

 county on the east. Its soil is a heavy loam, excellent for 

 fruit and wheat. The orchards of the town are just coming 

 forward and beginning to bear. Whenever there is fruit any- 

 where it can be found in Orattan, and one resident of the 

 town has had peaches on his farm for 18 years past without a 

 failure. The inhabitants are intelligent and forehanded, and 

 the soil, water, rolling land, all combine to make it a town 

 desirable for settlement. The committee urged upon the 

 people of that town to be cautious in their selections of fruit; 

 make a few good selections and set out larger orchards, and in 

 this way buyers will come to the town and take the fruit fron\ 

 the trees. Messrs. Slay ton and Duga, the gentlemen who had 

 the collection in charge, are entitled to an honorable mention 

 for their enterprise and labors. 



THE BEST INDIVIDUAL COLLECTION. 



One of the largest and finest exhibitions of fruit ever made 

 in the State was presented by Noah P. Husted, from his nur- 

 sery at Lowell, but it was not entered for a premium. This 

 collection embraced the following varieties, and those marked 

 by a * are esteemed the best and m(^st valuable sorts by Mr. 

 Husted : 



■WINTER APPLES. 



*Baldwin, *Wageuer (among the very best), *Northern Spy, 

 *Hnbbardston Nonsuch, *R. I. Greening, *Golden Russet, *Tal- 

 man Sweet, *Peck's Pleasant, Seek-uo-further, *Red Canada 

 (for top graft), Swaar, Spitzenburg, Rambo, King of Tomp- 

 kins Co., Roxbury Russet, Yellow Bellflower, Jonathan (good 

 but slow grower). Wine Sap, Winter Pearmain, Pennock, 

 American Pippin, Ben Davis, White Pippin, Minister, Tv.enty- 



