104 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



•who have presented their orchards for inspection, have allowed 

 their ground to remain in grass. If young orchards are of 

 trifling or secondary consideration, this will do ; but if one 

 •would have a good orchard, one worthy to be commended, it is 

 indispensable that the ground be kept loose by cultivation. A 

 crop of corn or potatoes may be taken advantageoi^ly from 

 the orchard if care is taken in ploughing not to break the roots 

 of the trees, and in hoeing to keep the ground round the 

 trees clear of weeds and grass. 



Mulching young trees is not sufficiently attended to. It is 

 the only way in which young trees, or trees recently trans- 

 planted, can be preserved from a drought. , Watering the sur- 

 face does not do it. If the trees are well mulched they do not 

 need watering. 



We -would urge all "who can, to set out and cultivate fruit 

 trees. Have an orchard, if circumstances -will admit; if not, 

 use up the odd corners of the garden, or the side hill, which is 

 no^w suffered to run to -waste. Do it for the sake of adorning 

 your home and making it attractive and beautiful. Do it as a 

 source of profit, and as a means of providing for your family 

 •wholesome and agreeable food. 



Mr. Stebbins' orchard is not very large. He has no more 

 trees than he can -well take care of. His trees have gro-wn 

 well this year. We commend to the society the means which 

 he has taken to free his trees of the worms, whose ravages 

 have been so destructive to the fruit this year. We have heard 

 of others who have used the same means with success. His 

 orchard is well sheltered from the wind, and is upon land, 

 which, owing to its position, would not be worth a fourth part 

 as much as the land upon which all the other orchards to which 

 a premium has been awarded, is worth. 



Mr. Loomis' orchard gave the committee much satisfaction. 

 He has a fine lot of trees. One row, in particular, which was 

 set by the side of a tight board fence, and where a row of 

 maple trees once stood, have grown with unusual rapidity. 

 Query. Was it the decaying leaves of the maple which fur- 

 nished the right nutriment to those trees ? 



Mr. Clapp had taken great pains with his trees. The bark 



