HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 183 



tural poor-house, whither they might retire and die — have pre- 

 sented their fruits here to-day, as worthy of the highest honors 

 of the parent society. 



There are undoubtedly many of the club, who have been 

 successful in infusing new life and vigor into old trees and old 

 soils. One gentleman at least, who takes a premium for the 

 six best varieties of apples, will scarcely deem the imagery 

 which we have used, a libel on his own fruit yard, as it was 

 five years ago. This, however, is but a solitary example. No 

 man who rides three miles out and back, fails to see, as well by 

 the way side as in the field, numerous specimens of these trees, 

 the superannuated relics of a better day, which by two or three 

 years' skilful fostering would, by their abundant fruitfulness, 

 make glad the hearts and hearths of their owners. And your 

 committee would conjure every man, who has a fruit tree on 

 his soil, with a breath of life in it, but yielding no fruit, if when 

 he rests from his labors he would hope to rest in peace, and not 

 find himself thrust through and through by some down strag- 

 gling root, seeking to avenge the barren trunk above it — that 

 he minister to the wants of that tree, prune it above and below, 

 regale its roots with new food, clothe it with new foliage, adorn 

 it with new bloom, and then shall that man's slumber be peace- 

 ful, and his children shall make autumnal mention of him. 

 That most of the contributions were from Northampton, makes 

 it evident that no such club exists in the neighboring towns. 

 We earnestly commend the cause in which this club is engaged, 

 far and near, and wish it God speed, wherever there is a seed 

 time and harvest. 



In awarding the premiums on apples, the committee were a 

 long time in doubt whether Dr. Walker, or Willard A. Arnold, 

 should receive the first premium. It is quite possible that the 

 imposing presence of Dr. Walker's pyramid of Rhode Island 

 greenings — 60 to the bushel — decided the question. Besides, 

 as he had reinforced his fruits with a strong detachment of 

 vegetables, he had undoubtedly determined beforehand to carry 

 the day. We have derived from Dr. Walker, a little of the 

 personal history of this apple, which is this. 



It (the R. I. greening) was from a tree budded on a seedlirtg, 



