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On the mjunous Effects of Clover to Orchards. By 

 Richard Peters. 



Read May 12th, 180r. 



Belmont, April 20thy 1807. 

 Sir, 



It having been mentioned at a late meeting of the 

 society, that it was an opinion gaining credit in many 

 parts of New England, that sowing clover in orchards 

 was injm'ious to the fruit, I have made some inquiries 

 on that subject. I have received a letter from TF. Coxe 

 Esq. at Burlington, who has the most extensive plan in 

 execution, for apple orchards, and fruit trees of every 

 species, I have heard of in America. If I gain farther 

 information I will communicate it. I w ish that other 

 members of the society would assist in this inquiry. 

 My own observations are, that for many yeai's my fruit 

 (apples) have never rewarded my endeavours to profit 

 by a large number of trees I possess. I am in the habit 

 of cultivating my orchards, in their turn, with the usual 

 course of crops, pursued on other parts of my farms. 

 Clover occupies them, for t^vo and three years. The 

 fruit is always rath, or eai'ly ripe; and drops before the 

 season for making cyder, though the produce is fre- 

 quently abundant. Whether this is owing to the loose 

 state of the soil, and its better tilth by cultivation and 

 manure, forwarding the fruit, and producing super- 

 abundant juices, and too rapid circulation of the sap, 

 or any qualities in clover, I know not. I should sup- 

 pose the circumstances first enumerated, accounted 

 for the premature decadency of the fruit, most ration- 



