DECEMBER MEETING. ^00 



Hale's and Early Crawford. The soil is a clay, loam and tlie sitnatioii very 

 good. Mr. Bryant spends a great deal of his time in liis orchards, and the 

 effect is shown in the houltliy and well grown trees, as well as in the returns he 

 receives for his fruit. Mr. Lindernian's orchard embraced 1,200 trees from 

 four to eight years old, a part of which won a premium two years ago, as a 

 young orchard. The soil is sand and clay mixed. Tiie effect of the ice storm 

 was visible here on some of the trees, some largo limbs had been broken off. 

 The oldest part of the orchard is high headed, but this error has been corrected 

 in the later plantings. Wo noticed but few vacancies in the whole block. The 

 trees arc set 1G.\20 feet. The varieties are 200 each of Barnard and Hill's 

 Chili, 17") Jac(]ucs' Karerijie, 150 Early Crawford, 100 each of Late Crawford 

 and Old Mixon, and 50 Ceorge the Fourth. He would put in more Jacques 

 Kareripe and Hill's Chili, and less Barnard, if planting again. He heads back 

 about half the new growth each year, and takes off a large portion of the fruit 

 that sets ; gives clean cultivation till August lirst, then sows to oats which 

 grow up and act as a mulch for the winter. This orchard was deemed well 

 worthy of the diploma awarded it by your committee. The following are 

 some figures received respecting this orchard : Has owned it four years. The 

 lirst year sold the crop on the trees for SOOO.OO. The second year, 1875, the- 

 crop nearly failed, had about 100 baskets worth about §100.00. In 187(5 sold 

 2,800 baskets, Avhich netted over -$1,000.00. The past year 3,G60 baskets have 

 been shipped, beside about 300 more taken to dry house, and the net profit is a 

 little less than 82,000.00. The cost of cultivation the lirst two years was about 

 $200.00, last year §200.00, this year §320.00. 



All the entries at this place gave evidence of the care and practical knowl- 

 edge of the owners, and the result of the discussions at the weekly meetings of 

 their local society was to be seen in the healthy and well cared-for orchards on 

 every side. 



At Paw Paw we found three entries, two bearing orchards, and one of young 

 trees. The first, that of A. Engle, 400 trees from seven to nine years old, set 

 16x20 feet apart. Two-thirds Late Crawford, and the rest Early Crawford. 

 The soil is a gravel and sand, Avith a clay subsoil, and well elevated, which is 

 the protection of the orchard. The trees are headed back each year. xVt the- 

 time of our visit had on a fair crop. The orchard generally looked thrifty, but 

 the trunks were rough and gumrny, and the work of borers was to be seen. It 

 was manured some each year, and the ])low and cultivator used in it all the 

 early part of the season. It averages full crops about two out of three years. 



C. Engle entered 1,100 trees, fifteen years old. Early and Late Crav»'ford, 

 Hill's Chili, and Barnard, the principal varieties. The soil clay, with some 

 gravel. These trees were bearing a full crop, but in general appearance would 

 not compare with others visited, not even with that of liis brother just 

 mentioned. But it has been a very profitable one. During the last eleven 

 years it has netted, above all expenses $2,125.00 for each acre, or nearly §200.00 

 for each year. 



Mr. Engle also entered a young orchard of 1,800 trees, 500 Smock Free, 350 

 Hale's Early, 300 Alexander, 200 each of Late Crawford and Honest John, and 

 100 each of Amsden's June, and a seedling of Early Crawford raised by himself, 

 very much like its parent, but earlier. This orchard is on clay soil, verr 

 rolling, is two years old, and is looking well. The healthy appearance of these 

 trees jis well as the profits of the old orchard seem to justify Mr. Engle in 

 planting very largely of the peach. The liigh elevation of the land here seems 

 to make the situation a very favorable one. We were informed that over 



