DIGEST OF STATE KEPOETS. 413 



size, form, color, and quality. The system of breeding in and in he re- 

 garded as unreliable. 



Mr. Lucas, a farmer of Lancaster, gave his experience in farming. He 

 had raised this year from his orchard $115 worth of apples, and had 

 made 17 barrels of cider, which sold at $6 per barrel. On 2^ acres of 

 laud he had grown 1,000 bushels of potatoes. From 4 bushels of sowing, 

 on 2 acres, he had gathered 65 bushels of wheat. 



In an article on fruit-culture, Mr. A. Leavens names the following as 

 choice varieties suitable for the climate of New Hampshire : Apples. — 

 Early : William's Favorite, Foundling, and Duchesse of Oldenburg. 

 Fall and winter : Hubbardston Nonesuch, Grimes's Golden Pippin, 

 Fameuse, Baldwin, and Eed Canada, or Old Massachusetts Nonesuch. 

 Peaks. — Clapp's Favorite, Bartlett, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Flemish 

 Beauty, Buffum, Beurre Bose, Beurre d'Anjou, and Duchesse d'Angou- 

 leme. Gkapes. — Eumelan, Creveling, Concord, lona, Worden's Seed- 

 ling, and Allen's Hybrid. 



The writer says that according to the census report of 1870 the fruit 

 crop of this State, estimated at $743,500, exceeds in value each of the 

 other crops, except corn, oats, and potatoes. He says: 



This estimate is only for apples and peara, and did not include other sorts of fruits, 

 which no doubt would have increased the amount to near a million of dollars. * * * 

 A good orchard is a permanent improvement to a farm, adding just so much to its real 

 value, and, if well cared for, will always yield an annual income. Let us go back to the 

 nursery. Suppose 1,00b apple-trees, and say 500 pear, are started in the nursery rows. 

 In 5 years, if cared for properly, the apple-trees would be worth at least $300, and the 

 pear-trees as much more ; in 10 years these trees would bo worth at least $3,000 ; in 15 

 years at least $5,000. The cost of raising that number of trees, reckoning the highest 

 price paid for labor, ought not to exceed """ 



As to the best location for apple-orchards in New Hampshire, Mr, 

 Leavens says : 



In this latitude it is generally conceded that an orchard will do the best on a south- 

 eastern exposure. If practicable, it should be placed under the shelter of a belt oi 

 wood, to protect it from the strong northwest winds. The apple can be grown in any 

 soil, except dry sand or land excessively wet. It will fruit best in a deep, rich, sandj 

 loam , but can be grown successfully on cheap hill-side lauds or in rocky pastures — land 

 which may be nearly useless for other purposes. This is a point worthy of special 

 attention, for with proper care such land can be made profitable and the best parts of 

 a farm saved for other crops if desired. Any soil that will retain sufficient moisture 

 to maintain continued growth through the heat of summer will answer for the apple. 

 A great deal is being said and written on the importance of subsoiling and under- 

 draining fruit-lands, both of them very useful practices, no doubt ; but the fact is, 

 not one fruit-grower in a thousand will undertake it. If they attempt fruit-culture at 

 all, they will use such lands as they have prepared as best they can without an extraor- 

 dinary expense. Now, sloping laud usually has sufficient natural drainage for the 

 site of an orchard, and in most instances such land will produce less wood and more 

 fruit than deeper and richer soil. A clay soil can be greatly improved by subsoil plow- 

 ing, and it should be done at least a year before planting the trees, if possible. For 

 the pear it is usually conceded that the soil cannot well be too rich or too mellow, or 

 too well prepared, for the best. success. Still, for want of a better, the pear and the 

 apple both can be raised on poorish sandy lands, but with an added amount of labor 

 in mulching around the trees, top-dressing the land, and thorough cultivation. With 

 so much thin soil as we have in this State, we must often make the best use of what 

 we have. 



In an article on sheep, wool, and mutton, by Mr. J. W. Lang, alsike 

 clover is highly recommendpd as a pasture or forage plant : First, be- 

 cause it is not liable to be winter-killed ; second, it stands severe 

 droughts well ; third, it makes a superior hay ; fourth, it will grow on 

 both dry and wet land ; lifth, the stalks and leaves keep green when 

 seeds are ripe ; sixth, it is richer in the constituents of honey, conse- 

 quently makes better bee-pasturage than common clover. 



