94 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



attractive, and long-rcmembercd. Tlicy make it like Eden, of 

 which it is said that out of the ground made the Lord God to 

 grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. 

 Imitate your creator, on your own grounds, and some of the 

 happiness of Eden shall be yours. 



William C. Fowlei^, Chairman. 



Amherst, Mass. 



Statement of David Rice. 



An individual may often own, or come in possession of a 

 farm, on which stands an old orchard, that has ceased from 

 excessive age, neglect, and improper management, to produce 

 fruit, except in sparing quantities, and of the poorest quality — 

 unfit for eating, and hardly worth gathering. There may be no 

 young orchard on the place, or it may not be old enough to 

 produce fruit. The owner desires to be supplied with fruit, 

 while his young orchard is maturing, and must either purchase 

 fruit or recruit the old orchard. The principle of economy is 

 consulted, and he finds that it will be economical to reclaim the 

 old orchard. And if the trees are not too aged, if they have 

 not lost too much of their vitality, and if they formerly bore, 

 good, fair, palatable fruit, the chances for success are altogether 

 in his favor. The trouble and expense of reclaiming an old 

 orchard is small ; and if the owner succeeds, he is repaid more, 

 than ten times over for his labor and expenses. In addition to 

 this, the general appearance (and appearances go a great ways) 

 of his estate is improved and be.autified. 



About eight years ago, I came into possession of the place 

 on which I now live. On it was standing an old orchard, that 

 had almost ceased to bear, and was, as it then existed, almost 

 worthless. A part of the trees were beyond any hope of 

 cure, "z?i articiilo mortis,'^ as the doctors say, and fit only for 

 firewood. The remainder, I considered to be in an improvable 

 condition. There was also on the premises, a number of 

 young grafted trees, not yet in a bearing condition. Under 

 the then existing state of things, I was obliged to purchase 

 nearly all my fruit, or go without any. The thought occurred 

 that I might do something to improve the productiveness of my 



