ORCHARDS. 133 



Statement of Ephraim Graham. 



The reclaimed orchard that I offer for premium consists 

 of about sixty trees. When I first moved to my place in 1839, 

 there were not five barrels of good, merchantable apples gath- 

 ered from the premises, but almost any quantity of cider and 

 other apples might be found. In 1840 I commenced ingrafting, 

 and continued so to do, to a greater or less extent, for ten or 

 twelve years. Some of my trees were young and thrifty, 

 others more advanced, and many of them on the decline of 

 life ; so much so, that I was advised not to undertake to 

 reclaim them — that they were better adapted for firewood than 

 to grow fruit. In 1816 I gathered my first crop of apples, 

 mainly Baldwins, about forty barrels. In 1848 I gathered 

 about sixty barrels, in 1850 seventy-five barrels, and about 

 fifteen barrels of second quality ; in 1852 some ninety barrels, 

 and fifteen or twenty of second sort, worth half price. In 

 1854 were gathered from these trees one hundred and twenty- 

 five barrels of first-rate apples, besides some twenty or twenty- 

 five barrels of second quality and cider apples. In 1856, 

 being a sparse year for Baldwins, although the even year, I had 

 only sixty barrels, and those of meagre quality ; in 1858 I 

 gathered from my orchard one hundred and ten barrels, 

 and the present year about forty, as some of my Baldwins 

 of the '-odd year" have now commenced bearing. When my 

 trees were transplanted, they were "set out" without order 

 or regularity, but "sprinkled" over all parts of the farm; I 

 have been careful to prune my trees every year, or nearly so, 

 and in some instances I am satisfied that the saw and pruning 

 knife have been too freely used ; I have not been particular in 

 regard to the season for pruning, but adopted the old adage, 

 " trim when the saw is sharp," whether January, March, June 

 or November. I have not neglected to use the scraper upon the 

 trunks of my trees in the spring of the year, after heavy rains, 

 when the old outside bark would easily yield ; and perhaps in 

 some cases this implement has been used to excess. I have fre- 

 quently washed my trees with a solution of clay and cow 

 manure ; whether or not this process had been beneficial, I 

 am not able to determine. One of my trees, in particular, 

 I Avas advised not to renovate on account of size and age, but 



