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Lawton Mich. Jan. 24, 1888.

Prof. Erwin F. Smith, 
University of Michigan.

Dear Sir:-  I have just returned home from a protracted absence
in the W Lake Superior region and find yours of 18th inst. waiting reply.
The first appearance we had of the yellows here was in
1878.  I think it had appeared in Mr Engles' orchard near Paw Paw
the year previous to 1878 but that was the season we first recognized
this disease here.  Peach trees have been grown here since
the first settlement of the region.  The first orchard for market
--500 trees-- was set by Mr. N. H. Bitley in 1858 and it survived
and bore finely for 30 years until destroyed by severe winter and
the yellows.  No finer, healthier peach trees or peach orchards
exist anywhere then were found here up to a few years ago.  We
have had several very severe winters--'84-'85 - '86, during which
many trees were injured or destroyed.  This added to the ravages
of the yellows has caused our peach orchards to look somewhat ragged.
In the season of 1881 there were shipped from this station
upwards of 100,000 baskets of peaches.  In 1883 perhaps as many,
possibly as many in 1887.

Up to about 1875 there were not many shippers. There were
but few orchards, still there were some that were proving profitable
and the success of these few induced others to set out trees.
The yellows seems to have gradually spread here from Benton Harbor.
We heard of its appearance in the west part of the county

        