MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 119 



the main roots. After the roots were covered, meadow mud 

 was placed round the trees. I set them two rods apart by a 

 square. 



I have washed my trees with soft soap suds and potash 

 water, one pound of potash to three gallons of water for young 

 trees. I have been troubled but very little with borers, I have 

 kept the ground around the trees free of weeds and the rough 

 bark scraped clean near the ground, where they usually deposit 

 their eggs. I have kept the trees trimmed up about five feet 

 from the ground, which gives room to plough under them, and 

 prevents cattle from breaking the tops. Three branches are 

 left to form the top. The land is cultivated in strips by the 

 trees, and what manure is used for planting keeps the trees 

 thrifty and in good order. A board placed on the southwest 

 side of the trees, until the top is large enough to shade the 

 body, is highly beneficial, as it prevents the sun from striking 

 them and thereby impairing their growth. 



South Reading, Sept. 3, 1851. 



[Of the other competitors, statements respecting their 

 orchards have heretofore been published in the Transactions of 

 Agricultural Societies; viz.: of Leander Cros'uy in 1848, of J. 

 W. Brown, in 1849, and of George M. Baker in 1850.] 



Milch Cows. 



The premiums for milch cows of native breed, were awarded 

 as follows : 



To Alexander Wright, of Lowell, 1st premium, - $8 00 



" James Tuttle, of Acton, 2d " - 6 00 



" Elijah M. Reed, of Tewksbury, 3d " - 4 00 



and to Peter Lawson, Dracut, Ayrshire cow, 1st prem. 8 00 



Alexander WrighVs Statement. 



The native cow oflfered by me for premium, was purchased 



out of a drove from Vermont, when three years old. She is 



now nine. She calved early in January, 1850. From the 10th 



of that month to the 20th of August, 1851, she gave 9027 



