98 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



apples," which he terms "wild ungrafted fruit," and then 

 proceeded : 



"In some parts of New Jersey in which ciders of superior 

 excellence are made, the farmers produce them wholly by graft- 

 ing; nor can we expect fully to rival them until we adopt the 

 same practice. In Massachusetts probably different kinds of 

 trees might be selected for orchards which ripen their fruits at 

 the times most proper for making them into cider. Apples until 

 mellow do not attain their highest flavor, and till then cannot 

 give the highest flavor to cider. It would require but little 

 attention to select and propagate the best apples, thus ripening in 

 succession. Such ciders, made of ripe and unmixed fruits, would 

 also be more easily managed in the most difficult and important 

 part of the process of cider-making, its first fermentation, on the 

 right or wrong conducting of which the character of the cider 

 depends. In one case it will be soft and pleasant; in the other 

 hard and austere." 



The next topic of the address was the ploughing in of green 

 crops for fertilization which was treated at considerable length. 

 The following was the peroration : 



"It is supposed, and justly, that these public shows by exciting 

 an emulation among farmers will lead to important improve- 

 ments in our husbandry. The general question which the case 

 presents is, 'What will be the easiest, cheapest and most effectual 

 means to accomplish this great object?' A principal one has 

 been to grant premiums for the greatest crops of specified plants 

 on given quantities of land. One pleasing result has appeared, 

 that, by ample manuring and good culture, the usual crops of the 

 same plants may be doubled and trebled. But is it necessary to 

 continue premiums of this kind? May not now the entire 

 management of farms, rather, claim attention? Instead of 

 numerous small premiums, dispersed on a variety of objects 

 might they not be advantageously concentrated for the purpose 

 here intimated — the cleanest, most economical, the most produc- 

 tive management of farms? For it must be such a general 

 improvement of the entire farm that will constitute the farmer's 

 permanent prosperity. 



In ploughing the just aim must be to make a straight furrow 

 and of uniform breadth and depth, and so to turn over the 

 furrow-slice as completely to cover whatever plants or manure 

 are upon it. All this cannot be effected with a hurried step. And 

 what benefit can possibly result from such a step? A farmer's 



