CARE OF ORCHARDS. 349 



ment to the trees. In the case of Mr. Sessions, it is manifest 

 that even on these lands, with the regular dressing of ashes 

 or manure, they may be made profitable. His practice in the 

 manuring of orchards is to be commended, without which few 

 orchards in New England can be kept in perfect condition, 

 and from this neglect, more than any other cause, our orchards 

 have been on the decline. 



And here let it be remarked, that where cultivation and 

 protection from insects have been regarded, as in our gardens, 

 that the apple is as fine now as it was in its pristine days. It 

 is a remarkable fact, also, that the apples originating in New 

 England — for instance, the Baldwin, Rhode Island Greening 

 and Rhode Island and Connecticut Russets — are still the great 

 favorites for market, and that from Western New York annu- 

 ally there are sent to the markets more than a million of bar- 

 rels in a year. In a word, until orchards are ten or more 

 years of age, no crop, except vegetables, should be permitted 

 to occupy the ground ; and then, if grass is grown, the laud 

 must be regularly manured, so as to sustain both crops without 

 injury to either, if such a thing be possible. 



After some further discussion by Messrs. Moore, Hadwen, 

 Stone and others, the Essay was laid over under the rule. 



On motion of Mr. Vincent, it was 



Resolved, That, as members of this Board, we will use our 

 influence with the several societies which we represent, to 

 induce them to provide for at least one scholarship each in 

 the Massachusetts Agricultural College, and to secure the 

 attendance of one or more scholars from our societies. 



Adjourned. 

 Third Day. 



Boston, Feb. 4, 1875. 

 The Board met at 10 o'clock, a.m., Col. Stone in the Chair. 



Present: Messrs. Baker, Bennett, Clark, Cole, Davis, 

 Dwight, Goessmann, Goodale, Hadwen, Hawks, Knox, 

 Knowlton, Ladd, Loring, Moore, Perry, Phinney, Sander- 

 son, Sessions, Shepley, Smith, Stone, Vincent, L. P. Warner, 

 W. L. Warner and Wilder. 



