276 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



it as completely as possible. The sooner the salt is applied, 

 and all packed close, the better. The deleterious effect of 

 the cheesy matter is in part prevented by the presence of 

 common salt. The salt should be as pure as possible, as 

 free, at least, from lime and magnesia as it can be obtained. 

 It is quite easy to purify common salt from these impurities 

 by pouring a couple of quarts of boiling water on twenty 

 pounds of salt, stirring the whole occasionally for a couple 

 of hours, and afterwards straining it through a cloth. Salt so 

 prepared will be found much more effectual in the preservation 

 of butter. 



It is hoped that these and many other points connected with 

 the manufacture of superior butter will receive the attention 

 of those who may hereafter offer their butter for the premiums 

 of the society. 



Charles Burton, Chairman. 



FRUITS 



ESSEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



"We were asked at the hall, why, in our premium list, prefer- 

 ence was given to pears grown upon their own root, rather than 

 upon the quince. We would say in reply, that the quince root 

 cannot be depended on for many years — that bearing earlier 

 than upon its own root, brings it to an early termination ; it 

 rarely lasts more than ten years, but occasionally it flourishes 

 and is productive for twenty years. We therefore recommend 

 for orchard culture, and for permanent crops, the pear stock. 

 Under favorable circumstances this tree is long-lived. The 

 Endicott pear tree, still in a bearing state at North Danvers, 

 was imported from England by Governor Endicott, in 1628. 

 The French pear trees, (so called,) that line the borders of the 

 river at Detroit, are said to be nearly a century in age, and are 

 still in a bearing state. Hence we have in our premium list 

 given preference to those grown upon the pear root, and wo 



