MANURES. 121 



From the thrift of the trees it is reasonable to expect in a few 

 years a yield of at least 1,000 barrels of apples. 



Orchards can be forced into much earlier fruiting than mine, 

 but it is not good policy to stimulate trees into too rapid a 

 growth by high manuring. They should have clean culture, 

 and the soil kept in good heart. My young trees are extremely 

 promising. They embrace only two or three varieties, selected 

 as the best market sorts. These, with others previously set out, 

 form orchards of about 700 trees. 



My aim is now, not so much to raise many acres of corn, 

 potatoes, and produce generally, as it is to give thorough culti- 

 vation to my fruit trees and the necessary care in guarding 

 against the depredations of insects. 



I would mention that among the improvements in progress, 

 is the conversion of two and a half acres of swamp land into 

 a cranberry meadow. The land is being pared in order for 

 immediate sanding. My intention is to set out the vines in the 

 spring. 



Hat Hall, Lakeville, Mass., December 1, 1863. 



MANURES. 



ESSEX. 



First Statement of Benjamin P. Ware. 



I would respectfully submit the following statement of my 

 first year's experiment as to the best mode of applying manure. 



The piece of land selected for the purpose is nearly level, 

 and of a uniform quality ; it is a dark loam, nine inches deep, 

 resting upon a gravelly subsoil, is retentive of manure, neither 

 heavy nor light, but fine and suitable for gardening, having 

 been cultivated during six years for onions, and manured annu- 

 ally with good compost manure, seven cords per acre. 



May 19th, I divided the land into five equal lots each meas- 

 uring 40 by 200 feet. Upon lot No. 1 was spread evenly, at 

 the rate of eight cords per acre, manure composted from meadow 



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