492 AGRICULTURAL REPOR7. 
to elaborate the juice and sugar, but if left on the tree until mature, most kinds will 
become mealy and fibrous. Not so with early apples; a contrary practice should be 
adopted with them; for instance, the early apples should be allowed to become per- 
fectly ripe before being gathered. So well convinced of this fact are our best culti- 
vators near Boston, that they mulch the ground under the trees with hay or straw, and 
’ allow such early varieties as the Early Harvest, Sweet Bough, Red Astrachan, Wil- 
liams’ Favorite, and even Gravenstein to drop from the trees, and gather them daily. 
With late varieties, both of the apple and pear, it is best to allow them to remain on 
the trees as long as possible without injury from frost and gales; but when the foliage 
has fallen or is destroyed by frost, the functions of the tree are arrested, and no fur- 
ther advantage to the fruit can be derived. 
As the flavor of fruits is so very delicate, it is absolutely indispensable to keep them 
from all decaying substances, either their own or other matter. The aroma of fruit, 
upon which depends so much of its relish and excellence, is extremely volatile, and 
the fruit should therefore be excluded from the air as much as possible, only admitting 
what may be necessary to preserve proper temperature, and fer the prevention of too 
much moisture. No imperfect specimen should be admitted into the recom, and all 
decaying fruit should be removed immediately. The practice of spreading out fruits 
on shelves, as formerly recommended in this country, and still practiced in Europe, 
requires too much room and waste, and even in pretty close apartments they lose much 
of their flavor, and without extraordinary care will become dry and shriveled. The 
better course, therefore, is to pack in boxes and barrels; and, to avoid the necessity of 
handling, to pack them immediately from the tree. 
In summing up the most important considerations in fruit culture, 
Colonel Wilder urges the following: Thorough and perfect drainage of 
the land, either natural or artificial; proper preparation of the soil, 
clean cultivation, and constant care of orebards; the necessity of 
excluding grass, grain, and all other crops from orchards, except, per- 
haps, a few vegetables while the trees are young; the importance of 
regular manuring of fruit trees, (as well as other crops,) and of applying 
the manure in the fall, on or near the surface, so that the rain, snow, and 
frost may prepare and convey its elements to the roots; the importance 
of thinning the fruit, thereby improving its excellence, increasing its 
value, and preventing the evil effects of overbearing, which always 
results in injuring the constitution and shortening the life of the tree; 
and lastly, clean culture, without destruction of the roots by deep 
plowing or spading, and constant care and vigilance are indispensable 
conditions of success. 
The following select list of fruits is recommended as adapted to 
seasons of maturity, and to most sections of the State: 
APPLES. — Summer: Early Harvest, requires a warm, rich soil; Red Astrachan, 
Williams’ Favorite. Autumn: Foundling, Porter, Gravenstein, Mother, Holden Pippin, 
Hubbardston Nonsnch. Winter: Rhode Island Greening, requires a good soil; Bald- 
win, Roxbury Russet, requires a deep rich soil. 
Prears.—Standards on pear roots: Clapp’s Favorite, large, should be gathered by the 
25th of August; Brandywine, early and productive; Bartlett, succeeds throughout the 
country ; Doyenné Boussock, prolific and profitable; Belle Lucrative, rich, but does not 
color as well as some; Buffum, very vigorous and productive; Urbaniste, one of the 
best autumn; Merriam, golden russet, a fine market variety; Onondaga, good for 
market; Lawrence, a popular winter sort; Beurré d’Anjon, early winter, and the best 
acquisition of the age; Vicar of Winkfield, hardy, fine tree, superior for cooking, and 
frequently good for the table. Dovarfs on pear or quince roots: Louise Bonne de Jersey ; 
Duchesse @Angouléme; Urbaniste ; Vicar of Winisfield. 
GRAPES.—Delaware, small, early, rich, and requires a warm, generous soil; Hartford 
Prolific, early; Massasoit, (Jiogers’s No. 3,) early; Wilder, (Rogers’s No. 4;) Concord ; 
Merrimac, (Logers’s No. 19,) the last three ripening about September 20. 
T. D. Thatcher, in a report on clover asa fertilizer, considers a good 
clover lay worth as muchas five cords of common manure to theacre. To 
insure a good lay, not less than ten or twelve pounds of seed should be 
sown to the acre, on land thoroughly prepared for its reception, and 
well rolled after being sown. Clover not only imparts fertility when 
plowed under, but its reots divide and break the soii while growing, and 
render it pulverous asthey decay. The thicker the plants, the firmer 
