FRUITS. 207 



down of its unsupported limbs. Thin out the fruit, and make 

 the branches stocky by cutting back, so that no supports will be 

 needed. By thinning, larger, fairer and more luscious fruit will 

 be produced, and the tree kept in thrifty bearing condition ; so 

 that, for a term of years, the quantity will be increased as well 

 as quality improved by not permitting the tree to be overworked. 

 The importance of picking off a portion of the fruit when trees 

 are inclined to overbear, cannot be too strongly emphasized. 



Whoever proposes to plant a grape-vine in the northern part 

 of Worcester County, had better select an early variety ; for 

 moderately good grapes, well ripened, will be vastly more satis- 

 factory and enjoyable than those of a much finer variety, frost- 

 bitten. But, fortunately, we have many good grapes that will 

 almost invariably get ripe in our climate. It is unwise for us 

 to attempt to raise such as ripen as late as the Isabella and 

 Catawba. The Concord will be found too late unless it has a 

 very favorable position. The Delaware is more certain to ripen, 

 and other varieties are still earlier. 



The Eumelan has not been raised much in this region, but it 

 is very early and very good, and succeeds well wherever it has 

 been tried. 



Ira Bailey, Chairman. 



HINGHAM. 



Statement of Charles II. Dwelley. 



The subscriber makes application for a premium for the most 

 profitable plantation of strawberries, not less than one-quarter 

 of an acre. 



Amount of land, 45 rods ; soil, gravelly loam. 



PRODUCT. 



920 boxes of strawberries, average price 28 cts. per 



box, $257 60 



4,000 plants, at 15 per 1,000, 20 00 



1277 60 



COST. 



4| cords of barn manure, at $8 per cord, 



delivered, $34 00 



Ploughing, 9 00 



