122 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. ' 



years old. I find the best way is to plant but one or two 

 every year to keep up the stock. 



Our trees suflfer more from overcropping and September 

 gales than from any disease. We have lost several large trees 

 within a few years from that cause. Trees one year from the 

 bud are better for transplanting than larger ones. Light, 

 sandy or gravelly soil is better than damp, heavy soil, as the 

 trees do not make so much growth, and the wood ripens 

 better and produces more fruit-buds. Prune away half their 

 growth every spring. 



I have not manured the trees at all since they were planted. 

 The Susquehanna, exhibited at the fair, is planted in a nar- 

 row flower-bed about eighteen inches wide, with a gravel walk 

 ten feet in width by the side of it, so that it is nearly all 

 gravel. I planted the Susquehanna and Hale's Early in 1869. 

 Up to this year the former has been a very shy bearer ; this 

 year it had a full crop. Hale's Early has fruited well every 

 year since planted, and only one year did the rot, which is 

 common to that variety, affect them. 



I should recommend Hale's Early, Early Crawford, Stump 

 the World, Early York, Yellow Rareripe and Susquehanna 

 as best for Essex County. There may be others, but those I 

 have proved to be first-class. 



The seedling exhibited (Essex County) was raised from 

 stones sent from South America five years ago. I have two 

 others, but they are not so good in size or quality. The 

 Early Crawfords which I exhibited were planted in 1872, then 

 one year from the bud. Some specimens I measured were 

 nine and three-fourths inches in circumference. 



Of grape-vines we have about a dozen, comprising Hart- 

 ford Prolific, Concord, Adirondack, Diana and IsabeHa. The 

 Hartford I consider the best early grape, but the Concord is 

 best for general cultivation. I have two vines of Concord 

 which are trained on a trellis over a steep bank, facing the 

 south-west, which a great many gardeners think is different 

 from all others they have tasted, but I believe it is owing to 

 its favorable situation, which ripens them better. The Diana 

 is a favorite variety with me, but it is rather late. My grape- 

 vines are raised from layers, spur-pruned in part and part 

 renewal. Last year my grapes were badly diseased, as were 



