140 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



oats, and meat ; the chickens are fed on coarse meal, moistened, 

 "until five or six weeks old ; then on corn and barley. I have set 

 three hens on forty-one eggs, and raised thirty-three chickens ; 

 they were hatched the first of June and are now three and a 

 half months old. I have kept an exact account of the eggs sold 

 and used in family, since January 1st, and also the cost of 

 keeping. I reckon the eggs used the same as those sold at the 

 same time. The sales have been of eggs : % 



171 dozen, amounting to ... . 



33 chickens, ...... 



Whole income, ...... 



The cost of keeping for the same has been : 

 ' 4 bushels corn at $1.50, .... 



4 bushels barley at 11.50, 



Oats, meal, meat, &c., ...'.. 



Whole cost, ....... 



Leaving a balance of $38.66 in my favor, or about $2.58 for 

 each fowl. 



FRUITS. 



MIDDLESEX. 



From the Report of the Committee on Class I. 



The increased value of land in the immediate vicinity of 

 Boston, has caused and is yearly causing much of the orcharding 

 to be cut down and give place for more profitable crops. This 

 fact, however, will not lessen the value of those orchards more 

 distant, and on land of less value. 



Apples. — That the apple crop will continue in most parts of 

 the county to be profitable, there can be little doubt. Those 

 farmers who follow the market have found the early and fall 

 fruits to be the best paying, such as the Red Astrachan, Porter, 

 Gravenstcin, William, and the like. These cannot, however, be 

 recommended to those who do not frequent the market ; as 



