372 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



are set on such lands it should first be thoroughly drained by deep 

 open ditches, or by underdraining, and if the soil abounds in muck 

 or clay, gravel or sand should be added to improve its texture, 

 render it more dry and friable and furnish suitable food for the 

 trees, as they will not do well either in pure vegetable mould or 

 clay. In traveling through the country I often see apple trees 

 standing on the lower side of ridges, near wet swales, that are 

 thrifty and healthy, and produce fruit in abundance, and a severe 

 drought appears to have little or no effect upon them. 



Albion Ricker of Turner, informs me that in the lot he selected 

 for his orchard there was a wet swale running through it, and he 

 was at a stand what to do with that portion, but he concluded to 

 dump a cai't load of good loam where he planted each tree. These 

 trees are now twelve years old, and the best in his orchard. 



It is evident to all that our old orchards are leaving us, and much 

 inquiry is made of the best way to replace them. My preference 

 is very strong for native seedlings, grafted or budded near the 

 ground. If I could not get such, I would obtain seedling trees, 

 and after being planted three or four years I would gi-aft in the 

 limbs. If I could get nothing else, rather than go without I would, 

 buy a few Western New' York trees, though I am not much in favor 

 of them. Whatever kind of trees you think best, be sure to plant ; 

 let the old plant for posterity, and the young and middle aged for 

 themselves also. Some may say that they cannot wait so long. 

 This reminds me of .a farmer who thought so, and therefore he 

 would not plant ; his son inherited the same view, but his gi-and- 

 son thought he would plant some trees, whether he lived to eat of 

 the fruit or not his children might. Whether they did or not, the 

 story does not say, but it does say that his grandfather drank some 

 barrels of cider from that orchard. 



There is a cloud of witnesses all about us who testify, "If I had 

 only planted an orchard twenty years ago, and had taken care of 

 it, I might now have a sufficient income for myself and my family. 



There is nothing that will help sell a farm so well as a good 

 thrifty orchard upon it. If you meet a shrewd man in pursuit of 

 a farm, one who has the means to pay for a good one, and you 

 name one to him, his first question is, has it a good thrifty orchard ? 

 Such farms are scarce in the market ; the farmer who has a well 

 cultivated and productive orchard is contented, and does not wish 

 to sell, nor to emigrate west. 



There are a few Hxrmers in Maine who receive from $500 to 



