276 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



almost out of the reach of the majority of the people. Even 

 the Bartlett, a pear sustaining a similar relation to others as 

 does the Baldwin among apples, is by no means to be obtained 

 at otherwise than luxurious prices, notwithstanding that the 

 demand for it is very much diminished by the fact that its 

 period of maturity is shared by the peach, a very formidable 

 rival, both in its quality and price. 



But it may be said that among the millions of trees that have 

 been set within the last five or ten years, but a small number 

 have, as yet, produced fruit in any quantity, and that until the 

 majority of tliem begin to bear fair crops, the effect upon the 

 market will, of course, be hardly felt. We are not, however, 

 of that class who indulge fears of this nature. We are unable 

 to believe that the better qualities of fruits will ever be pur- 

 chased, unless as an occasional exception, at prices which will 

 fail to handsomely remunerate the intelligent producer for his 

 outlay and trouble ; and we are strengthened in this conviction 

 while taking a survey and learning the history of a large por- 

 tion of the trees which have been set within ten years past. 



Trees have often been purchased of an irresponsible nursery- 

 man, or perhaps some travelling agent who could tell a very 

 plausible story of the great value and cheapness of those which 

 he wished to sell. The varieties of which he had the greatest 

 stock on hand, were always those that he recommended as being 

 particularly worthy of cultivation, even if he differed with all 

 good judges, a fact of which his customers did not possess infor- 

 mation. If the trees were raised upon a poor soil, he would 

 insist upon it they were much better for not having been 

 "forced." In planting out, trees have been placed in soil with- 

 out the least preparation, in holes just sufficient to receive all 

 the roots, with a little crowding. The bruised ends of the 

 roots left untrimmed, and the whole operation, in fact, performed 

 very much as a fence post would be set, and the tree is too often 

 rivalled in its growth by the post. 



These modes of treatment, however, we arc happy to believe, 

 are practised less generally than they were a few years since. 

 Better ideas have begun to prevail among tree planters. A 

 fruit tree is getting to be considered as having an organism 

 endowed with life, and governed by similar physiological laws 

 as are other living things. Its wants and necessities are becom- 



