MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 135 



bushels of compost, from the yards where I had kept droves of 

 cattle. This was spread early in the spring, and the ground kept 

 hoed until about the 4th of July. Then the brakes and wild 

 grass were again applied. When caterpillars were troublesome, 

 I examined the trees before they leaved out, and took off their 

 eggs. When the green lice appeared on small trees, I sifted 

 ashes over them while the dew was on the leaves, or on a 

 misty day. 



This statement so far, is confined to the orchard south and 

 southeast of my house, set out in 1840. While managing this 

 orchard for the first four years, I considered myself acting on 

 belief, more than knowledge. From the experience of these 

 four years, I adopted the rule by which I have since managed 

 my apple trees. In 1845 I set out 50 apple trees. In 1846 I 

 set out, in one field 210 apple trees, and in another field 100 

 apple trees. In 1848 I set out 132 apple trees, and in 1849, 50 

 apple trees, making in all, 700 trees. 



Rules practised since 1844. I dig the holes one or two 

 days before setting the trees, that the sun may warm the 

 ground. If the ground is rough, I go where corn was raised 

 the year before, and manured in the hill, and take from the old 

 hills enough soil to furnish each hole with one bushel. This, 

 when dry, I sift in among the roots. I never set apple trees in 

 foul weather. If it is a low spot of ground, I put a load of 

 gravel under the tree. When I plant among the trees, I make 

 the rows both ways, and in such a manner as to have the tree 

 occupy the place of one hill. From April to July I keep the 

 ground hoed, as far as the roots extend. From July to October, 

 if the weather is dry, I keep such grass and brakes as I can 

 find, around the trees. Sometimes, when I dig potatoes very 

 early, I put the vines around them. From October to April, I 

 keep about the trees a small pile of weak compost, or pulverized 

 swamp mud, always spreading it in April. I wash them once 

 a year with soap suds and ashes. Sometimes I put around the 

 trunk a quart of ashes. 



My trees consist of the Baldwin, Russet, Greening, Blue 

 Pearmain, Hubbardston Nonsuch, Red Astrachan, Porter apple, 

 Thief apple, Maiden's Blush, Shropshirevine, Summer Sweet- 



