ESSEX SOCIETY. 35 



good position. Many of the trees are growing finely and prom- 

 ise well, others are less promising. There is great inequality 

 in their appearance. The mistake, if any has been made, 

 was in the selection of his trees in the first instance. 

 The contrast between Dr. Merriam's and those in the other 

 orchards viewed, shows the necessity of care and liberality in 

 the first selection of the trees. If the Doctor's trees, five years 

 hence, shall be found to have overtaken in their growth those 

 of his competitors, then the committee will cheerfully admit 

 their mistake in their own notions. 



Some of the committee were anxious that the attention of 

 the trustees should be called to the importance of offering pre- 

 miums for the introduction of some new variety of apple, in- 

 stead of the cultivation of those now most esteemed. Instance, 

 if any one could bring forward a new apple that would com- 

 pare with the Baldwin, the Danvers Winter Sweet, or the Hub- 

 bardston Nonsuch, all of which have originated in Massachu- 

 setts, we believe within the last century, he would be a public 

 benefactor. 



The advantages to accrue from the cultivation of the Bald- 

 win apple, are well illustrated on the farm of Francis Dodge, of 

 Danvers, to which the committee were invited, and by whom 

 they have been favored with a statement of the produce of his 

 orchard the present year. Mr. Dodge's trees, about forty-five 

 in number, were set about twenty years since, in a field of 

 seven acres, by the wall, thirty-five feet apart. Ever since, care 

 has been taken to keep the land in good condition, and every 

 thing has been done to promote their growth without incurring 

 any unreasonable expense. The present year, the trees have 

 yielded him more than six barrels of fair apples to a tree, many 

 of which sold for two dollars per barrel. The value of their 

 produce, exclusive of the labor of gathering and taking to the 

 market, cannot be estimated less than three hundred dollars. 

 At most, these trees cannot be estimated to occupy more than 

 one acre of land. In what way can a farmer apply his acres 

 to a better purpose ? At the same time he brings money to 

 himself, he carries health and comfort to all who are furnished 

 with his apples. This is more than can be said of many other 

 products, especially those that pass through the distillery. 



