198 HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN, AND 



Orchakds. 



There was awarded for apple orchards, 



To John L. Morton, 2d premium, - - - $6 00 



" Daniel L. Smith, 3d " . - . 4 00 



" Ephraim Montague, Belchertown, peach orchard, 3 00 



John L. Morton's Statement. 



The orchard presented by me for premium, was set out in 

 October, 1849, on light sandy land, in a low state of cultiva- 

 tion. It had been tilled for a long time, and would perhaps 

 have produced fifteen bushels of corn per acre, without manure. 



In digging the holes for the trees, I took off the soil, and 

 placed it one side by itself. Holes two feet in depth by three 

 in breadth. Before setting the trees, I put into the holes green 

 manure, the scrapings from under an old barn, and from a chip 

 yard. On setting the trees, with my fingers I carefully placed 

 the roots, and thoroughly covered them with the soil, (that had 

 been laid aside,) until the tree was firmly set, when the sub- 

 soil was thrown upon the top. Of eighty trees set in this man- 

 ner, not one failed, and many of them grew from three to four 

 feet the next season. 



I have since given them four light top dressings of compost, 

 varying in quality. The first two years, the compost applied 

 was from the hog yard, without being dug in and mixed with 

 the soil. The last two years, I have been more particular in 

 the selection as well as the application of the dressing. It 

 consisted of green manure and chip manure, of equal parts, to 

 which were added lime, ashes and plaster, and was carefully 

 dug in. The trees have been pruned in June. In hoeing the 

 crops, I have uniformly hoed the trees. 



Daniel L. SmitJi's Stateinent. 

 In the spring of 1844, my father gave me about two and a 

 half acres of land, with the understanding that I should prepare 

 and set it out to apple trees. This land was then valued by 

 him at ten dollars per acre, it having formerly been sowed to 

 rye until it was worn out. I commenced by ploughing it very 



