176 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



underlaid by a hard-pan, which requires tile-draining for the 

 removal of the superfluous water. The land was cleared of 

 rocks and bushes and ploughed in May, 1815. Manure at the 

 rate of five cords per acre was put in the hills, and the piece 

 was planted with potatoes. In November, twenty-four pear 

 trees were set as deeply as they stood in the nursery, in rows 

 fifteen by twelve feet. Trees were set yearly until 1858, when 

 the orchard had reached its present limits of two hundred and 

 fifty trees. 



Some of the trees were set out previous to 1815, in 1812 and 

 1813. The cultivation has principally been a light yearly 

 manuring, with ploughing till 1859, when the trees being too 

 large for the team, forking was introduced, which kept the 

 ground free and mellow. A light crop of beans and potatoes 

 was harvested yearly till 1859, the trees then being so large 

 planting was abandoned. The manure which was used was 

 principally from the stable, but woollen rags, bones, fresh from 

 the market, horn shavings, fish, ashes, guano, street-sweepings, 

 and sea manure, have been used as auxiliaries. The trees were 

 staked at the first setting, but staking was abandoned after the 

 second year. They commenced fruiting the second year, and 

 have increased the amount till tlie crop of the present year is 

 estimated at two hundred bushels. The varieties suited for 

 general cultivation, are, for early summer, Madeleine, Dear- 

 born's Seedling, Bloodgood and Bcurre G.iffard ; later comes 

 Rostiezer, St. Ghislain, Bartlett, Belle Lucrative, and Golden 

 Beurre of Bilboa ; mid autumn, the Louise Bonne de Jersey, 

 Buffum, Andrews, Bosc, and Seckel, seem to suit most locations ; 

 for winter I would confine myself to the Vicar, Lawrence, and 

 Glout Morccau. All but winter varieties arc better taken from 

 the trees before soft and ripened in the house in a dark place. 

 Packing in woollen cloth seems to develop the colors, making 

 the red a crimson and the pale yellow a brilliant orange. Winter 

 varieties require a long season, and should be barrelled and 

 ripened in a warm cellar. 



