ORCHARDS. 37 



invited the Committee to examine his pear orchard, with refer- 

 ence to the premium of the society. The Committee spent 

 about three hours among his trees, with much interest and 

 profit, noticing all the particulars of soil, planting, pruning, 

 manuring and culture, which have resulted in the thrifty and 

 beautiful trees now enriching the grounds of Mr. Billings. 



There are nearly four hundred trees, not planted together, but 

 occupying different positions on the grounds, suited to the soil 

 and exposure. The attention of the Committee was especially 

 attracted by the strong and vigorous habit of the trees, and by 

 their symmetry of shape. The form is pyramidal. Commenc- 

 ing to branch about a foot from the ground, they are filled to 

 the very tops with strong, healthy wood, not crowded and inter- 

 laced, but open to receive the full benefit of the sun, and at the 

 same time shading the trunk from its too intense rays, and thus, 

 perhaps, preventing the " blight," not more than two or three 

 instances of which were visible in this whole collection of trees. 



The Committee are able to account for the thriftiness of these 

 trees in the following manner : — 



1st. They are not crowded together, but are allowed room to 

 feel the full effects of the sun on their tops, and the full benefit 

 of the soil on their roots. A great mistake is made in crowding 

 trees too closely together. With some the rule is to plant trees 

 on the quince eight feet apart ; but when they feel the effect of 

 the pear roots, and begin to spread, every other tree must be 

 sacrificed. In our opinion, the distance apart, even for those on 

 the quince, should not be less than twelve feet. 2d. For the 

 most part, the soil is trenched and drained — thus deepened and 

 pulverized ; and sweetened by the removal of all superfluous 

 moisture, it is prepared to insure a healthy and vigorous 

 growth. 3d. The Committee are inclined to attribute, in no 

 small degree, the healthiness and beauty of these trees to the 

 system of pruning adopted. They have been under the care of 

 Mr. Robert Watt, of West Roxbury, who has exercised great 

 skill and care in their culture. Mr. Watt seems fully aware of 

 the advantages gained by the pyramidal growth of the pear ; he 

 relieves the tree of all superfluous wood, shortens in the last 

 year's growth, especially the leading rampant shoots, always 

 cutting back close to a bud, selecting, in every instance, an out- 

 side bud, that the growth may be outward and not inward ; and 



