342 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan , 



from them, and have never entirely recovered. We immediately plowed 

 it, and have kept it under cultivation to the present time. In 1880 we 

 had a few peaches. In 1881 about 250 of the trees blossomed well and 

 fruited nicely — some of the smaller ones having but few, while the 

 larger ones were well loaded. 



Tlie drouth was so severe during the summer, that we began to fear the 

 peaches might be injured unless some measures were taken to protect 

 them. We acted accordingly, and by about the middle of August we 

 carted about ten tons of salt hay into the orchard and nuilched 

 thoroughly, with the exception of a few trees near the corner, which we 

 left as an experiment. We were perfectly satisfied in the results we 

 derived from mulching. The trees which we did not mulch had less 

 peaches and much poorer. We had from 250 trees now in bearing, over 

 200 bushels, averaging $3.55 per bushel. The trees have made a fine 

 growth this year and are looking well, and in closing, I would state 

 that I think the three essential things that will lead to successful peach 

 culture in Connecticut, are lands well-elevated, trees perfectly healthy 

 from the first, and good culture. 



Cuthbert Rasijherry — M. A. BooUttle, Clinton. 



My 150 hills of Cuthbert Raspberries produced very fine results. I 

 picked from that plat of Cuthbert's of 150 hills, over 300 quarts of 

 berries which netted me twenty-five cents per quart by the crate shipped 

 to Greenwich. I shall set them out largely in the sjjring. 



77ie Bearing year Changed — James T. Huhhell, Wilton. 



In the circular the question is asked, "Have you tried any means to 

 secure better crops of apples on the odd or barren year, if so, with what 

 success ? " On my father's farm we have never " tried " any means to 

 bring about any such result, but we have however plenty of apples on 

 the odd years. This result was brought about by a hail-storm which 

 visited a limited portion of Wilton, in May, 1875, which was so severe in 

 some parts of its track as to beat olf apple-blossoms and young pears. 



Since that time the odd or barren year with others has been our har- 

 vest. I have seen it stated that tlie French fruit growers, when any of 

 .their trees show a disposition to bear biennially, beat off about half of 

 the fruit blossoms and thereby secure average annual crops. I cannot 

 of course guarantee the success of the French plan, but I think that our 

 experience lends it some support. This year we have had a full crop of 

 apples, and an overflowing crop of pears. I would say that some of our 

 neighbors' trees were touched by the same storm, and their experience 

 has been similar to ours, but not perhaps quite as marked. As next 

 year will be the "year of plenty," it would do no harm for our farmers 

 to experiment on some one tree and note the result. 



