FRUIT CULTURE. 163 



nights than at other times ; and although it may often protect 

 vines against light frosts, it cannot always be relied on to [)er- 

 forni such duty effectually. Water is a certain ]>rotection 

 wherever it is properly applied ; indeed, plenty of water under 

 convenient control is indispensable for the most profitable 

 culture of cranberries on our meadows. A plentiful covering 

 of water will perfectly protect cranberry vines through all the 

 inclemencies of winter ; water will save entire crops from 

 destruction by spring frosts ; water will destroy that pest of the 

 vine, the cranberry worm ; and with water the finest crops may 

 be grown in dry seasons, when vines on less favored grounds 

 are pinched and parched with drought. 



The cranberry crop is still worthy of the best attention. 

 Even this season, when nearly all other fruits are superabun- 

 dant — when the finest pears can scarcely be given away, and 

 choicest apples may be had for the asking — cranberries are 

 readily sold at from nine to twelve dollars per barrel. 



Of this fruit we have not yet enough for a plentiful home 

 supply, while we ought to export thousands of barrels yearly. 

 This county ought to pay cranberries for all it imports from 

 our sharp trading cousins across the Atlantic. 



Nathan Page, Jr. 



MIDDLESEX. 



From the Reports of Committees. 



Apples. — Class No. 1. — Leaving the more important matters 

 pertaining to the cultivation of the apple, such as choice of 

 varieties, selection of trees, rules for setting, pruning, <fcc., 

 these having all been ably treated heretofore in the society's 

 reports, and being generally well understood by the intelligent 

 practical farmers of Middlesex County, perhaps I cannot better 

 serve the interests of the society in any attempt at a rejiort, 

 than by offering a few suggestions relative to the preparation 

 and arrangement of apples for exhibition. 



Allow me then to suggest, in the first place, the propriety 

 or expediency of offering separate premiums for new or seed- 

 ling varieties of this most important of all our fruits ; thus 

 insuring for them a more careful examination and thorough 



