134 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



subsequently was advised so to do by an " old, experienced 

 orchardist," Samuel Downing, Esq., of Lexington, to whom 

 I am indebted for many valuable hints and suggestions in 

 relation to renovating an old orchard, as well as in the culti- 

 vation of a youi*g one ; this suggestion being made on the 

 premises, that the tree would yet produce 8100 worth of fruit 

 in its day and generation. I have kept a separate account 

 of the proceeds from this tree since the first year of its bearing; 

 in 1846 it produced four barrels, worth $8; in 1848, four 

 barrels, worth $8 ; in 1850, five and a half barrels, and one 

 of second quality, worth $10.50 ; in 1852, six barrels, and two 

 barrels of second quality, worth $10.50 ; in 1854, seven and a 

 half barrels, and two of second quality, worth $11 ; in 1856, 

 being the "hard year" for Baldwins, only three barrels, worth 

 $10.50 ; in 1858, five barrels, worth $11. 



When I first commenced the work of improving my orchard 

 I removed the earth from the trunks of the trees and incorpo- 

 rated compost manure ; but, reasoning from analogy, 1 came 

 to the conclusion that this process added about as much to 

 the growth and nourishment of -the tree and fruit, as it would 

 to put a hungry boy's dinner into his boots ; I therefore aban- 

 doned this process. As all feeders of the tree lie at no small 

 distance from the trunk, it is well to plough and cultivate 

 orchards quite frequently, and prevent, at least at intervals, 

 grass and tree roots growing at the same time on the same 

 land. 



My process of ingrafting for the last few years on old trees 

 has been to insert one-third of the tree each year, commencing 

 at the top and working downwards, until the whole of the tree 

 was completed ; thus requiring three years to complete the 

 work. This method is better than any other 1 have tried for 

 ingrafting old trees, as it gives the young grafts an opportu- 

 nity of getting well started ; cutting off and ingrafting the top 

 first gives the grafts there the best chance, while the necessary 

 pruning of the top throws the sap into the remaining side 

 branches and prepares them for ingrafting the second year; 

 the third year, the lower branches will have been made ready 

 in the same way. As far as I have had observation and expe- 

 rience, I am* satisfied, especially in ingrafting old trees, that 

 the practice of cutting off all or nearly all the limbs the first 



