HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 135 



garden vegetables, esculent roots, and frnits, — particularly the 

 minor sort. 



One of the projectors of the new city below us, has said that, 

 in five years, we may find great works there, and, of course, a 

 large population. This population will be manufacturers, not 

 producers of the food on which they are to subsist. Where can 

 it as well come from as from the Hamptons and the Hadleys in 

 the immediate vicinity 7 Let the farmers in this vicinity set 

 themselves diligently to the work. The very next season, this 

 market will be opened for the supply of the laboring pioneers of 

 this great enterprise. 



The time has come when every old and useless fruit tree, 

 bearing fruit of no value, should be cut down, and no longer 

 cumber the ground and destroy the crop below it ; or be cut off, 

 and its top renewed by grafting into it good and marketable 

 fruit. Cider-making, except for vinegar, is at an end ; and the 

 manufacturer of vinegar will pay but eight or ten cents a bushel 

 for apples for this purpose, when good fruit will bring from two 

 to six shillings a bushel, and an average of at least three 

 shillings. The farmer should not tolerate the growth of poor 

 fruit trees on his premises, any more than he would suffer the 

 growth of the burdock or Canada thistle. It is as easy to raise 

 good fruit as that which is bad ; and yet how frequently do we 

 see peach, pear, and apple trees, in the gardens and best grounds 

 of the farmer, bearing indifferent and worthless fruit. 



The garden vegetables were of good quality, and some of 

 them of monstrous growth. It is rather desirable that fair speci- 

 mens of good varieties should be exhibited, than monstrosities 

 of any kind ; yet monstrous productions show what the soil of 

 this valley will do in this way, and, so far, they are interesting. 

 Justus Boies and Stebbins Lathrop exhibited some sweet pota- 

 toes ; they were of large growth and fine appearance ; and, if 

 of good quality, will be quite an acquisition to our garden escu- 

 lents. If brought forward in a hotbed and transplanted early, 

 they will have a warmer season for ripening, and doubtless be 

 made of better quality. 



Quinces. Two specimens of the best varieties were exhibited • 

 one, the apple or orange quince, the other, a fine specimen of 



