36 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



less, and have therefore disappointed the buyer. Again, we say 

 set pear trees, but set good ones or none ; and, when set, do not 

 think the work is done. Nurse them, dig about them, and take 

 as much care of them each year as a good farmer would take, 

 and must take, to get a good crop of corn, and we believe that 

 your labors will be rewarded. 



James M. "Woodbury, Chairman. 



Statement of Dr. Thomas Palmer, of Fitchburg. 



My pear orchard is set on the modern quincunx plan of mixed 

 standards and dwarfs, containing three hundred and twenty-six 

 trees, one hundred and sixteen on pear stocks, and two hundred 

 and ten on quince stocks, standing on thirty thousand square 

 feet of land, being less than three-fourths of an acre, and is located 

 on my fruitland farm, on Summer Street, near the village of 

 Fitchburg. 



This orchard was set in the spring of 1863. The soil is a 

 deep yellow, with clay subsoil, sloping to the south-east. It had 

 formerly been used for grass crops. It was ploughed in the 

 spring. The trees were set fifteen inches deep, and all stones 

 removed. After setting the trees, it was planted with potatoes, 

 with the usual amount of manure for potato crop spread on, and 

 no manure put under the trees when set. Each year since there 

 has been as much manure spread on and ploughed in as is 

 usually put on corn ground, and cropped with squashes, toma- 

 toes, onions and strawberries, as much as though there were no 

 trees. The trees were two years old when set, and were obtained 

 from the Geneva Nurseries, New York. 



An orchard set on the quincunx plan forms rows and alleys 

 running in every direction, rendering it advantageous in culti- 

 vating the ground with the horse-hoe, leaving the standard trees 

 in a position one in the centre of four, eighteen feet apart, with 

 dwarfs between, in such a manner that all the trees arc ten feet 

 four inches from each other, giving sufficient room for growth 

 and cultivation. T. Palmer. 



Fitchbukg, October 1, 186G. 



NORFOLK. 



From the Report on Fruit Trees. 



On the 18th of September, notice was received from the Sec- 

 retary that Joseph H. Billings, Esq., of West Roxbury, had 



