ESSEX SOCIETY. 73 



think should be cut when it is full in the blossom, and if it is 

 heavy and badly lodged, it should be cut earlier. 



The quality of the hay, I think, depends much on the 

 weather previous to cutting, as well as the weather in the hay- 

 ing season, and the manner of curing. A long wet season 

 immediately preceding the cutting of the hay, injures its 

 quality. Berries ripened in wet weather are not so sweet as 

 when ripened in dry weather. Apples or peaches that grow in 

 the shade, are not of so good flavor as those that grow in the 

 sun. Grass cut when it is rather green, if a long wet season 

 precedes, may not be as good as grass cut somewhat later, 

 providing a considerable season of dry weather precedes cutting, 

 and the difference may be owing to the weather, and not to be- 

 ing cut later in the season. 



I think it is not uncommon for farmers on this, as well as on 

 many other subjects in regard to farming, to embrace erroneous 

 opinions, attributing certain results to some other than the true 

 cause. 



JOSEPH HOW, Chairman. 



On Fruit Trees. 



Many of our farmers have in former years, realized large re- 

 turns from fruit orchards ; even a few trees sometimes produc- 

 ing more profit to the owners, than all the other products of 

 iheir farms. In later years, fruit orchards have become more 

 numerous, and probably the returns from them have not been 

 so large as formerly, from the fact, that the cultivation has been 

 so much extended as to increase the supply to equal, or nearly 

 equal the demand. 



Now, but very few of the products of the soil are more re- 

 munerative than that of fruit trees ; and in proportion to the 

 labor required, after fruit orchards have reached a bearing state, 

 we do not recollect of any branch of agriculture that pays so 

 well, as a well cultivated orchard. 



Amongst us, there is now more uncertainty of producing fair 

 fruit, than formerly. The reasons why, are not in all cases ob- 

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