REPORTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 279 



OCEANA COUNTY HOKTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



PREPARED BY SEC'T CANFIELD. 

 OFFICERS. 



President — C. A. Sessions, Sammon's Landing. 



Vice Presiderd — D. W. Howard, Pentwater. 



Secretary — W. J. Canfield, Pentwater. 



Treasurer — W. H. Browne, Pentwater. 



Lilrarian — W. Hudson, Pentwater. 



Executive Board — L. M. Hartwick, S. A. Browne, D. L. Garver, A. Hol- 

 lister, E. J. Shirts. 



This society became an auxiliary to the State society last year. The terri- 

 tory embraced in its operations is the county of Oceana and vicinity. It con- 

 templates holding its meetings the last Saturday of each month during the 

 year ; but owing to the late and backward spring of 1S81, and considering the 

 great amount of work for farmers and fruit-growers that would be necessary to 

 be done in a short space of time, it was deemed best by the members of the 

 society to postpone the monthly meetings during the busy season. The monthly 

 meetings held in the early spring months (March and April), when a general 

 discussion was had in regard to the fruit interests of this locality, were of a 

 very pleasing and profitable character. 



One great drawback here is that many of the older residents of the county, 

 near the shore of the lake, are yet engaged in lumber operations, and take no 

 especial interest in anything else. The younger portion of our population, 

 many of them, coming and settling here for the express purpose of raising 

 fruit, are wide awake on the subject, and already have large orchards planted, 

 and where these have come into bearing are reaping large rewards for their 

 enterprise and industry. This county bids fair to rival many of the older 

 counties of our State in the production of apples, peaches, plums, pears, and 

 the smaller fruits. The climate and soil are especially adapted to the growing 

 of the peach. 



