176 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



UNDEKDRAINING. 



HAMPDEN. 



Statement of J. W. Adams. 



Land that will grow pear-trees is esteemed by pomologists to 

 contain the elements of success in horticulture, which are with 

 the most difficulty, artificially applied. It must have moisture 

 always under control. It must be well-stocked with organic 

 and inorganic constituents of growth. 



That the growing of pears for profit might be a reasonable 

 venture in the fertile valley of Connecticut, I became convinced 

 by examination of the city gardens and farms adjoining ; and 

 this conviction was confirmed by frequent comparison with the 

 neighboring towns of Boston, of Worcester, Hartford and other 

 places already celebrated for the abundance and excellent 

 quality of this fruit. 



After nearly three months thus spent in forming an opinion, 

 and deciding upon a " base of operations," there appeared in 

 one of the Springfield daily papers, early in September, 1867, 

 an advertisement, as follows : — 



Wanted. — Within two miles of City Hall, seven to ten acres 

 of land, rich enough to grow pears. Address Box 116, P. 0., 

 with particulars. 



To a stranger about town, and one somewhat dreamy from 

 lately reading the landscape gardening essays of Downing, Ik 

 Marvel and others, it need not be said that in response to numer- 

 ous invitations, prospecting was done in various directions with 

 only trifling evidence of success. The lot at last selected was 

 against the doubtful assent of some friends, who thought it cold, 

 wet and forbidding. " The best located part of it on Main 

 Street," said one adviser, " can never be planted earlier than 

 June, and the street is built so much above it, that it cannot be 

 drained." To balance, it was suggested that credit ought to 

 be given to the swiftly running brook, sparkling with its crystal 

 waters, with its deep pools and waterfalls continually attracting 

 to its depths every bare-footed boy and girl, who could ingeni- 

 ously frame an excuse to travel by its banks. Fish-ponds and 

 their profit were also mentioned, and the imagination did not 



