1882.] REPORT ON POMOLOGY. 341 



By invitation, E. W. Durand of Irviugton, Essex Co., N. J., sent a 

 twelve quart crate each of the Jersey Queen, and the Superb; both 

 seedlings of his own production, and both very showy, beautiful, and 

 excellent. Messrs. Hale exhibited a large number of varieties of great 

 excellence, as did Mr. J. B. Olcott. 



The exhibit was admired by all who saw it, and was duly commented 

 upon by the Hartford papers, and the request was made by several that a 

 more general and extensive exhibit be made in June, 1882, in Hartford; 

 the notice to be made general, with a full exhibit of strawberries from 

 all sections of the State, and that those raising new varieties by 

 hybridization from all sections of the country be invited to join in the 

 exhibition. We trust the arrangement will be fully consummated. 



COMMUNICATIONS. 



Peach Orchard of E. Woodruff & Son, Guilford. 



In the year 1875 we purchased a tract of land — one of the highest 

 points of the town — situated about one and one-half miles north of the 

 village, and well-known throughout the community as Hungry Hill. 

 At the time we purchased this land, a small portion of the ground on 

 which now stands our peach orchard was thickly covered with junipers; 

 the remainder was heavy timbered, principally hickory and oak. "We 

 at once proceeded to clear the land from timber and bushes, with the 

 intention of planting a portion with peach trees. The piece we selected 

 was nearly at the top of the hill, with a northern exposure. The soil is 

 a light loam, with a heavy clay subsoil, very stony. In the spring of 

 1876 we plowed it as best we could, clearing off the small roots and 

 stones, leaving the larger roots and stumps for time to act upon, that wo 

 may remove them with less expense. In the spring of 1877 we planted 

 160 trees (one rod apart). A number of varieties were planted, all have 

 done well, but those which have succeeded best are Crawford's Early, 

 Crawford's Late, Old Mixon, and Stump the World. We have planted 

 a few each year since, until at present we have about 400 trees. The 

 ground was so covered with brush from the forest trees that many ashes 

 were made by burning it. We have added a few ashes since, and once 

 a slight dressing of barn-yard manure. Aside from this, no fertilizers 

 have been applied. The soil at present seems to be in good condition. 

 In 1877 and 1878, the orchard was planted with potatoes — the crops 

 were good. In the fall of 1878, we sowed the orchard with wheat, and 

 seeded to grass, noticing many articles which have been written from 

 time to time that peach trees would grow quite as well in grass if hoed 

 two or three feet from the trees, as if kept under cultivation ; but our 

 experience has taught us never to seed to grass if you expect any fruit. 

 In the summer of 1879 our orchard was visited with seventeen year 

 locusts which did us great damage. At first we thought it entirely 

 ruined ; many of the trees were so stung that nearly all the limbs fell 



