34 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



or three instances by the blight. Two 'years ago the past sum- 

 mer, one tree, a Glout Morceau, planted in 1853, was attacked 

 by the blight, killing one-third of the tree. This part was imme- 

 diately removed by sawing off the branches and burning them. 

 One year ago it was attacked in the same way, though not so 

 severely, and received the same treatment ; this season the 

 remainder of the tree is growing well and bearing fruit. 



The soil is what would be called a black, heavy loam, too wet 

 and cold for a good crop of corn, four years in five. In the fall 

 of 1863, I commenced draining with two-inch tile, and laid 

 about one-half of the piece, laying the drains thirty-four feet 

 apart or midway between every other row of trees, and about 

 three feet deep. The effect of this was so plainly seen the 

 following season, that in the fall of 1861, I laid the remainder 

 of the piece thirty-six feet apart, or so as to come between every 

 third row of trees, which arc dwarfs. The expense of draining 

 the piece I cannot now state, but think it a better investment 

 than if put in the 7-jY s government bonds. 



Concord, September 10, 18GG. 



Statement of E. Bunce fy Son. 



The peach orchard, of one hundred and forty-eight trees, 

 which we offer for inspection and premium, if found worthy, 

 was set May 1, 1862, on dry, gravelly land, sloping to the 

 south and west. The trees were crooked and unsalable ones 

 from the nursery, headed in severely and set eight feet apart. 

 The first year we planted the ground with corn, second year 

 with beans ; since then it has not been planted. In 1863- 

 64-65, the trees received, each, one shovelful of compost 

 from the barn cellar, worked into the ground at the first hoeing 

 in the spring. One-half of them also received one pint of wood 

 ashes in the spring of 1864. IJave kept the ground cultivated 

 with cultivator and hoe. Have not been troubled with insects, 

 excepting a few borers which have been taken out with a knife. 

 About half a dozen of the trees, where most exposed, died from 

 the freezing of the roots last winter, and we think it would be 

 well to protect them through the winter with some sort of 

 mulching, in such situations. Each year, in October, have 

 headed in from one-third to one-half of the previous summer's 

 growth. 



