ESSEX SOCIETY. 33 



be one of those plants. After several years' experience in the gar- 

 den culture of the cranberry, I can see no obstacle in the way 

 of complete success, provided the same care and skill are be- 

 stowed upon itj that are rendered to a bed of choice and tender 

 strawberries. 



SAM'L P. FOWLER. 



Fruit Trees. 



The Committee visited in the course of the season, the sev- 

 eral orchards and plantations of trees, to which their attention 

 was called. The statements of the claimants will best explain 

 the particular quality of the orchards. The committee will add 

 a few remarks expressive of their own impressions. But two 

 parcels of pear trees were presented to their attention. Moses 

 Pettingil's trees were set in 1846, immediately after the pre- 

 mium was offered. Care was taken by him to obtain trees of 

 fine quality, and of the best varieties of fruit, from Mr. Man- 

 ning's nursery. They were set in a soil admirably adapted to 

 their growth, and have since been watched with the best atten- 

 tion. They have grown remarkably well, nearly all the trees 

 being now thrifty, and in bearing condition. In the interme- 

 diate spaces between the trees, an orchard of peach trees has 

 been cultivated at the same time, which have been highly pro- 

 ductive of some of the best varieties of peaches that we have 

 met. The committee were highly gratified with the success 

 of Mr. Pettingil's experiment, and can with confidence refer to 

 it, as a good illustration of what can be done by intelligent 

 culture of this kind of fruit. Some half a dozen of the best 

 varieties of pears, presented at the exhibition of fruits in Salem, 

 grew upon these trees, that have been set within the last five 

 years. The committee are pleased to award the first premium 

 of ten dollars, to Mr. Pettingil. 



Dr. Merriam exhibited to the committee some handsome 

 pear trees, that have been cultivated with much care and atten- 

 tion. With the appearance of these trees they were well 

 pleased. The committee were not .aware that the number 

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