
          <s>297</s> 304

copy
correct

[Mailed from Millgrove
Feb. 6, 1888.]

Mill Grove, January ? <s>2</s> - 1888.

Erwin F. Smith,

Dear Sir

In reply to yours of the 25 inst. the exact date when the 
yellows first appeared in Allegan county I have not at hand.
Consequently this statement may not be quite accurate in regard
to the time.  There is doubt existing as to the time of its first
appearance in the county.  I have heretofore made inquiry of persons
and their statements differ.  The first peach tree known to
have yellows was at or near St. Joseph in the year _ 1866 [cf. p. 296].
This tree had borne three crops before yellows appeared in the tree.
The disease soon spread, first slowly, gaining rapidly in the number
of trees each year.  The course traveled was east and north
along the lake shore until it reached the town of Casco in or about
the year 1874.  From that point it gradually spread until it 
reached Ganges and Sangatuck [Saugatuck].  I first saw it at Fenville in the
Summer of 1876.  By this time most growers became convinced that
the ax and fire was the only remedy hence the disease spread not
so rapidly as it had in the southern part near the point of its
origin. There is a pine timber belt in the county of Allegan
running north and south about 5 to 7 miles in width, this separates 
the western part of Allegan county from the central and eastern
portion.  Three years after the first appearance at Fennville the
disease made its appearance in the township of Allegan.  It first
        