04 ON FRUIT TREES. 



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 Avith 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 sev- 

 en 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 imreasonable 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. 



The extraordinary produce of the Baldwin apple the present 

 season is worthy of special notice. Universally have these 

 trees borne a full crop. We have known single trees, not over 

 thirty years old, to yield fourteen barrels, and three trees to- 

 gether to yield forty barrels. We know one young orchard, 

 where the proprietor picked with his own hands forty barrels 

 in one day. 



We forbear to extend our remarks on this subject, as they 

 may be thought not entirely within our province, nevertheless, 

 if we could convince our farmers of the benefits to accrue to 

 them and their families, from more assiduous attention to the 

 cultivation of good fruit, we tliink a good service would be ac- 

 complished. A. T. NEWHALL, 



Chairman of the Committee.* 



Salem, Nov. 15, 1850. 



* A. T. Newhall, of Lynnfield, J. W. Proctor and Benj. Porter, of ])anvers, 

 Joshua H. Ordway, of \Vest Newbury, Epli. Wood, of Salem. 



