BRISTOL SOCIETY. 187 



neighbor set out two plum trees, (the purple Gage,) ten feet 

 apart, in the garden adjoining mine. A year since, one of the 

 trees came into my possession. This one had borne no fruit, 

 but the other had, last season. In the spring, I rubbed the 

 lower limbs and body of the former tree with soft soap, and 

 spread and hoed in beneath it a pint and a half of salt : in May, 

 I applied a pail of the saltpetre water. The leaves changed to 

 a darker green and a larger size ; new shoots started, and grew 

 faster than upon the other tree. In June, July, and again in 

 August, the same quantity of the dilution was applied. This 

 tree hung full of fruit, which ripened well ; while the other tree 

 neither bore so full nor grew so fast; many plums fell off; the 

 branches grew but six or eight inches ; while the one upon which 

 I tried the experiment threw out numerous branches very long, 

 one measuring four feet eight inches. The body now girts If 

 inches larger than the other tree ; the bark is smoother, and the 

 tree looks healthier. 



Taunton, 1847. 



Vegetable Crops. 



The applications for premiums were few, and still fewer those 

 accompanied by statements of the mode of cultivation, required 

 by the regulations of the society. Unless there are minute de- 

 tails of the method and expense of raising a crop, by which the 

 members of the society can judge of the profit derived from a 

 particular branch of agriculture, the liberality of the Common- 

 wealth, in providing means to reward the most successful culti- 

 vators, would be of little or no avail, as a matter of public util- 

 ity. On this ground, it has become a settled rule with the Com- 

 mittee, to enforce, as far as practicable, the regulations adopted 

 by the society, on this subject. 



The Committee have awarded, for the best crop of beans, on 

 not less than a quarter of an acre, to Andrew H. Hall, of Taun- 

 ton, 1st premium, $5 00 ; for the best crop of English turnips, 

 on not less than a quarter of an acre, to Jacob Dean, of Mans- 

 field, 1st premium, $5 00. 



B. RODMAN, Chairman. 



