74 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



obtained mixed with mussels or other shell-fish, it is still 

 more valuable. 



We have obtained the very best results from covering the 

 whole surface of the ground, under and around the trees, with 

 the salt-marsh mud immediately when taken from the marshes, 

 being governed in the amount applied by the size of the trees, 

 and incorporating with the soil as occasion might permit ; 

 being a little particular not to place it against the trees, but 

 leaving a space of say a foot around it, when first applied. 



Our own practice is to cultivate annually the whole surface 

 around our trees, ploughing shallow and planting with root- 

 crops or beans, when not too much shaded ; and the manure 

 for these crops, in liberal amount, we pile around the trunks 

 of the trees the first of December, after the first frosts have 

 set in, spreading the same over the surface before ploughing 

 in the spring ; and we succeed in getting about as good crops, 

 while the trees are small, as we could if the trees were not on 

 the ground, with, we are satisfied, no real injury to growth or 

 bearing of the trees. Ashes is an invaluable manure, espe- 

 cially for dwarfs. Lime is of value in most soils. It is our 

 own practice, when we do not apply salt-marsh mud, to sow 

 the ground about our pear, quince and peach trees with coarse 

 salt, about as thickly as you would seed with small grains, 

 just before ploughing in the spring. 



It is the opinion of a few pomologists that some of the best 

 varieties of pears are deteriorating, and in proof of this we 

 are told that there are no such magnificent specimens of 

 Duchesse d'Angouleme, and a few other varieties, raised on 

 the Cape, as there were when first introduced. From this 

 we must dissent, and are assured that the seeming decay can 

 be traced to a lack of thorough, persistent cultivation. We 

 raise, and meet with in the gardens of others, just as fine 

 specimens of these fruits as in years past, but they are 

 obtained by high cultivation. It is true that there are a few 

 varieties that do not succeed with us, but which are fine in 

 other sections of the country ; as the Flemish Beauty, Beurre 

 Diel and St. Michael. The failure of these, we are satisfied, 

 is more attributable to climatic influences than to other causes ; 

 but these can be ameliorated by perfect tillage or entire 

 mulching of the ground. We think we never experienced a 



