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STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Leavitt, Roswell, Bellaire. 

 Maltby, E. H., Bellaire. 

 May, C. E., Bellaire. 

 Morrow, R. E., Central Lake. 

 Morrow, G. M., Central Lake. 

 Montgomery, G. W., Bellaire. 

 Mosher, Rev. W. P., Bellaire. 

 Mudge, Grant, Central Lake. 

 Mudge, Phillip, Central Lake. 

 Nixon, W. J., Bellaire. 

 Pinnell, Chas., Bellaire. 

 Potter, E. J., Bellaire. 

 Putt, C. W., Bellaire. _ 

 Richards, H. L., Bellaire. 

 Richards, W. H., Bellaire. 

 Rogers, D. L., Bellaire. 

 Sage, A. E., Central Lake. 



Sage, O. N., Central Lake. 

 Scott, C. W., Rapid City. 

 Severance, F. M., East Jordan. 

 Slocum, Ralph, Bellaire. 

 Sowinske, Peter, Bellaire. 

 Underhill, C. L., Bellaire. 

 Vaughan, John, Central Lake. 

 Van Liew, L. G., Bellaire. 

 Weiffenbach, Chas., Bellaire. 

 Williams, Peter, Central Lake. 

 Wilson, G. H., Bellaire. 

 Wooton, A. B., Bellaire. 

 Wright, Fred S., Bellaire. 

 Young, Rev. Thomas, Central Lake. 

 George Turner, Central Lake. 

 N. H. Disbrow, Bellaire. 

 E. D. Muckey, Bellaire. 



The association holds monthly meetings, during the summer months at the homes of 

 its members; during the winter season in the villages, in the territoiy covered by the 

 association. Printed programs are issued at the beginning of the year containing a list 

 of topics to be discussed and designating the member to take charge at each meeting. 



The work of the association has been mainly along the lines of better methods in spray- 

 ing, pruning, cultivation and care of the orchard. It has conducted a number of field 

 demonstrations along these lines and has been fortunate in having the assistance and ad- 

 vice of Professors Taft, White. and Hallagen of the Agricultural College, President Farrand 

 and Secretary Bassett of the State Society and a number of other practical and successful 

 fruit growers at its meetings. 



Taking its name from the beautiful valley encompassing the Intermediate chain of 

 inland lakes the association has an ample field for its labors in the years to come. Antrim 

 county was originally covered with a dense growth of the finest of hardwood timber, the 

 bulk of it having been but recently lumbered. But a little over 33 per cent of its valuable 

 agricultural and fruit lands are vmder cultivation. 



Apples and cherries are our leaders in the line of fruit production but berries of all kinds 

 wild and cultivated, grow in profusion. We have a number of successful and profitable 

 peach orchards and the acreage set to peaches is each year being extended. 



The soil of the county is mainly a gravelly loam, containing the elements necessary 

 for producing healthy and early bearing trees. Protected by Lake Michigan on the west 

 and having upwards of seventy miles of inland lakes we rarely have zero weather until 

 late in January or in February when our lakes freeze over and the ice and snow hold vege- 

 tation back until danger from frost is over. Our spring seasons are practically two weeks 

 later than in southern Michigan and our season of killing frosts is correspondingly ex- 

 tended in the fall. Injury to fruit from spring frosts almost never occurs in the western 

 part of the county. 



- Thus far the serious diseases so troublesome to orchards further south have not affected 

 us in this county and the association is now looking after the appointment of efficient 

 commissioners in each township to prevent their introduction. The county is already a 

 heavy shipper of apples and approximately 150,000 fruit trees were set in the territory 

 tributary to the valley above mentioned during the past year. 



Meetings of the association are held on the last Friday in each month and it is working 

 to accomplish the purposes for which it was formed, namely "The promotion of the in- 

 terests of horticulture and fruit growing in the county of Antrim and State of Michigan, 

 by encouraging the raising of fruits and horticultural products and the development and 

 extension of a market therefor." 



CHAS. S. GUILE, 



Secretary. 



