SECRETARY'S REPORT. 41 



From another town of the same county, the following return 

 was made, showing also the great attention which this subject 

 is receiving: — 



" More attention is paid to fruit culture, than any other 

 branch of agriculture, and with great success — especially peaches, 

 which thrive exceedingly well here ; about 5,000 bushels were 

 raised the past season. Apples, and other fruits do well. It 

 is generally considered, that fruit trees pay for themselves, 

 including care, cost of trees, &c., in about twelve years ; and 

 I think a great part of the time bestowed on an orchard is 

 "clear gain. All should plant an orchard who have land; I 

 can assure them more profit thereby, than from any other 

 branch of agriculture." 



In the county of Hampden, though less interest is felt in 

 fruit than in some other counties, it is now beginning to excite 

 attention. One practical farmer writes from there, as fol- 

 lows : — " People have paid considerable attention to the culti- 

 vation of fruit, for a few years past, and I think with pretty good 

 success. I have done as much in the way of raising fruit, as 

 any man in our town, and I can say that I get more net profit 

 from my fruit, considering the labor, than from any other pro- 

 ducts of my farm. We are seventy miles from Boston ; we 

 can pick our apples one day, and have them in Boston market 

 the next." 



The county of Norfolk is peculiarly adapted to the raising 

 of fruit, from the nature of its soil, its vicinity to the best of 

 markets, and the facilities which it has for selecting the finest 

 varieties. An intelligent, practical farmer, writes thus: — 

 " Much attention is given to the cultivation of fruit. A good 

 orchard of apples, in full bearing, would probably increase the 

 profits of a farm one-third ; and where a variety of fruit is suc- 

 cessfully cultivated, the increase of profits would be one-half, 

 perhaps more." ♦ 



Another in Middlesex County, says : — " Considerable attention 

 has been paid to the cultivation of fruit, particularly apples an^ 

 peaches. We send to the Boston and Lowell ^)p[}%ri»§t§, faf)jC)gt 

 six thousand bushels of peaches, and, in b9pyiijg.^5j(^gV6,^^out 

 six thousand barrels of apples. We coj^^^ M^fuf^^^c^^ 

 wood, more profitable than any thing^j^g ef^ Tm^{,z\-%\z\\lsi^ 

 6 



