148 



MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



I also enter for premium two-thirds of an acre of ruta-bagas. 

 The soil is a gravelly loam, in grass last year ; ploughed nine 

 inches deep, and twelve cords manure applied ; rows eighteen 

 inches apart ; hoed twice. 



COST OF CULTIVATION. 



Ploughing, . 

 Cultivating, . 

 Harvesting, . 

 Seed, . 



12 cords manure, 

 1 less. 



Total cost, 

 HiNGHAM, Nov. 8, 1872. 



FEUITS. 



ESSEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Pears. — The most noticeable pear upon the tables was the 

 Bartlett, of which many fine specimens were presented, and 

 which generally succeeds better than any other variety. There 

 were also very handsome specimens of the Beurre Clairgeau, 

 which would have done credit to any exhibition, but as this 

 pear is so variable in quality, it should be planted with cau- 

 tion. The Doyenne Boussock was large and fair, and we 

 believe this to be a good market variety. 



Excellent reports and essays on pear-growing have appeared 

 in former " Transactions " of this society ; but as they have 

 probably been forgotten (if ever read) by the present genera- 

 tion of fruit-growers, your committee thought it might be 

 well to offer a somewhat extended report upon the general 

 management of the pear, hoping it would draw attention to 

 the subject, which we believe to be an important one. When 



