Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/210

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUiYTY.

��the best modes of cultivation noted; the ravages of climate, insects and other drawbacks given; the best modes of overcoming all difficulties stated, and the results olitained in each indi- vidual case.

The effect of the Society's lalior has greatly advanced the standard of fruit in this county. It has brought other societies here at different times, and has awakened a general interest in most parts of the county, not easily measured by the standard of money.

Mr. Palmer continued President till the early part of 1875, when he was succeeded by Adam Moore. At the same time, Mr. ■ Palmer was elected Vice President; John Booth, Secretary; and Dr. Bigelow continued as Treasurer.

These persons remained in office until Janu- ary 12, 1878, when Mr. Palmer was elected President; R. M. Coulter, Vice President; C. S. Doolittell, Secretary; and Dr. Bigelow, Treas- urer. These officers are still occupying their respective positions. The monthly meetings are regularly held during the .proper season, and would the citizens of the count}^ in general, give the Society that encouragement properly due, its benefits would be largely increased.

Regarding the beneficial results of the horti- cultural society, Mr. Palmer, its President, fur- nishes the following: ■' In the early settlement of the county but little attention was given to the cultivation of small fruits, such as straw- berries, raspberries, grapes, etc. Not till 1860, was any considerable quantity grown for mar- ket."

The soil proved to be well adapted to the growth of these wholesome and delicious fruits, and very fine crops were grown. The fruit met a ready sale at good prices. The acreage in- creased for several years, until about fifty acres each of strawberries and raspberries were grown in the vicinity of Mansfield. Since 1865, the home market has been well supplied, and thou- sands of bushels have been shipped to other parts of the State.

��Grape-growing is also comparatively a new industry in this county. For a long time, it was the general opinion that grapes could not be grown with success, except in certain localities, and near large bodies of water; $80 an acre have been paid for land on Ivelley's Island and elsewhere about Sandusky City, for vineyard purposes. Experience lias proven that the hills of Richland County will grow as many tons of grapes per acre, and of as good quality, as could be raised in any of these localities. The first vineyard planting in the county was done in 1863 by L. N. Pittenger and F. R. Palmer. Two years later, John Oswald planted a vineyard. All these vineyards bore fine crops of choice fruits. The fifth year after planting, Mr. Oswald gathered twelve tons of grapes from five acres; and the next year, gathered the enormous crop of twenty-seven tons from the same ground. This fruit sold readily for $100 per ton. The other vine3ards were not allowed to bear so heavily, being pruned, and yielding about three tons per acre. The fruit was larger and of much better quality, and sold in Fort Wayne and In- dianapolis for $140 per ton.

The success of these vineyards encouraged others to plant, and in the spring of 1874, more than seventy thousand Concord grapevines were planted in Richland County. There are now (1880) 150 acres of vineyard in the county, whose average crops are two and one-half tons per acre, or nearly four hundred tons, worth $500 ; surely a profitable investment. But lit- tle wine is made in the county, the fruit being principally used for table purposes. The bulk of the crops have been principally shipped to Cincinnati, where the}' have commanded good prices.

The first vines planted in 1863, b}' L. W. Pittenger, Ijore an excellent crop the third year after planting, and for thirteen 3^ears the vines have yielded an annual remunerative supply. In 1878 and 1879, many of the vine3ards lost their fruit by reason of rot, This does not ap-

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