158 MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 



agreeably to the favorite system of Benjamin Wheeler, Esq., 

 a mode, which, in the opinion of the committee, contributes 

 greatly to beauty, in the shape of the tree, and to convenience 

 in cultivating the ground. 



J. W. Brown, of Framingham, offered his apple orchard for 

 a premium. His statement, circumstantial in its details, con- 

 tains facts and suggestions, that will be useful to the cultivators 

 of fruit. 



Marshall S. Rice, of Newton, has an apple and a peach or- 

 chard, both of which he offered for a premium. Mr. Rice's 

 statement, concerning his mode of cultivation, destruction of 

 insects, &c., contains so much information that may be impor- 

 tant to fruit cultivators, that the committee would not perform 

 their duty to the society and the public in general, unless they 

 presented it as part of their report. 



Charles L. Tarbell, of Lincoln, presented his apple, peach 

 and pear trees, for the premiums on those productions. 



The committee required of all the applicants, statements in 

 writing, of the soil, mode of cultivation, and treatment in re- 

 gard to insects. It will be seen, by their several statements, 

 that, in most instances, the requisition was complied with. 



Charles L. TarheWs Statement. 



The trees I offer, are on a black, loamy soil, with yellow 

 loam for subsoil. My apple trees, one hundred in number, were 

 set in the spring of 1844, in rows thirty-three feet by twenty- 

 four. In setting, holes were made to the depth of one foot, by 

 hree feet diameter, and the subsoil made loose twelve or fifteen 

 inches ; we used no manure about the trees when setting, filling 

 the holes with the soil taken out. The land has been ploughed 

 every year, and planted with corn or potatoes, and manured, 

 twelve to fifteen ox cart loads broadcast to the acre. 



The trees have never been washed, except in a few in- 

 stances, where I discovered the tree lice ; the wash used, was 

 whale oil soap suds ; they have been kept free from moss by 

 rubbing when wet, with a grass sod. 



