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0?i Orchards, 

 Head March, 8th, 1808. 



Belmont, February llth, 1808. 

 Sir, 



I send to }'ou, that it may be communicated to the 

 "society, an excellent letter from W. Coxe Esq. of Bur- 

 lington, of whom I requested the favour of his informa- 

 tion on the subject of it. He is judiciously, and with 

 spirit, prosecuting an extensive plan of nurseries and 

 orchards, unrivalled in this country. One sheet of such 

 com.munication of actual practice, is more instructive 

 than a qUire of theory. His orchards have not yet ar» 

 Tived at sufficient maturity, to determine, whether the 

 .practice he is pursuing w^ill be beneficial, when they 

 are in full bearing. For young trees, there is no doubt 

 of its great advantages. But I still have my doubts, 

 whether enriching and constantly cultivating old or- 

 chards, will be found advantageous. Occasionally 

 ploughing an old orchard is serviceable, to promote the 

 health of the trees. But manuring and loosening the 

 ^oil too much, I fear cause them to overbear, and by 

 forwarding the fruit too soon, to drop before the sea- 

 son for gathering to keep, or for cyder« In the south- 

 ern part of our state (New Garden, New London, ^c.J 

 they have large orchards, on lands absolutely worn out ; 

 and fit for little else. Their fruit remains till the pro- 

 per season ; and they gather abundant crops. There is 

 something, no doubt, in the change of the product; for 

 I know that trees will grow wonderfully, on fields where 

 grain has ceased to thrive. But their soil is naturally 

 .^oor. 



