240 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



then I have seen limbs on the same tree, where the fruit was 

 perfectly smooth and good. The matter has been, and is 

 now, a mystery to me. 



Mr. Whitaker. I would state, that, when I was in 

 Worcester Count}", I had Flemish Beauty trees growing on a 

 clay subsoil which was drained previously to planting them, 

 and I never had a cracked Flemish Beauty on that land. I 

 left there ten years ago. 



Dr. Fisher. Under the same circumstances I have them 

 crack, — three and a half out of four. 



Mr. Whitaker. Ten years ago I came to Needham, and 

 planted the Flemish Beauty on dry, sandy land, and I have 

 not had a good-sized, decent pear, without beiug cracked 

 more or less, on that ground. The St. Michael is a pear 

 that cracks almost everywhere ; but I have grown very good 

 fruit on clay soil, and never succeeded with it on sandy soil. 



Mr. Hadwen. The St. Michael thrives on clay soil, as a 

 rule ; but for a good many years the St. Michael has cracked 

 badly. Once in a while, however, we have a season when 

 the St. Michael seems to grow as perfect as can be recollected 

 by the older gentlemen before me, when the St. Michael was 

 the ]3ear |;«r excellence. 



Mr. Flint. The next question is. Can any one give the 

 name of a red potato that excels or equals the Davis Seed- 

 ling, and a white one that will take the place of the Orono 

 in its best days ? 



Mr. Perry. As to the Davis Seedling, I should say that 

 I don't know any potato that equals it. That sells among 

 our foreign population. It is a strong, rank potato; but it 

 gives the best satisfaction of any potato I have ever raised. 

 As to the other potato mentioned, I don't know what that 

 potato is. 



Mr. Flint. Another question, Wh}^ do farmers never 

 combine their capital, buy a large tract of land, buy their 

 tools at wholesale, hire as many overseers and as much 

 help as is necessary, and divide the profits at stated intervals, 

 as manufacturers do ? 



Mr. Cheever. Very easily answered. Because there 

 would be no profits to divide. 



Adjourned to two o'clock. 



