HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 199 



deep. The first three years I planted it to corn and potatoes, 

 putting on about twelve loads of manure each year. 



In the fall of 1847 and spring of 1848, I set out my trees 

 two rods apart each way, buying about one half from the 

 nursery, and the other half digging up about the lots, and 

 engrafting myself, at the ground. I tilled the ground for two 

 years as before, and then seeded it down. The manure used 

 about the trees was compost and wood ashes. I put a small 

 quantity in the hole, at the time of setting. 



For a wash, I used weak ley. My trees are not os uniform 

 in size as they would have been, had they all been purchased 

 at the nursery. The land is now worth two hundred dollars 

 per acre. I set out peach trees between some of the apple 

 trees. Last year I sold twenty dollars' worth of peaches from 

 these trees, besides having a supply for my own use. The 

 apple trees have just begun to bear. I have cut on this land 

 two tons of hay per acre, for the two years past. 



Northampton, Sept. 19, 1851. 



Ephraim Mojilague's Statement. 

 My orchard consists of about one hundred and twenty-five 

 apple trees and nine hundred peach trees, the greater part of 

 w^hich have been set out since 1845. The land is naturally 

 stony, had been cultivated several years, and being on a side- 

 hill, and but poorly manured, is not very rich. In some places, 

 the heavy rains have washed nearly all the soil from the solid 

 rock, of which the hill is composed. Still, I think the soil and 

 location are favorable for peach trees, as they show by 

 their vigorous growth and their present healthy and thriving 

 appearance, although they have had no manure but ashes, 

 plaster and a little lime. The ground has been cultivated 

 every year. 



The apple trees are set two rods apart each way, and the 

 peach trees between, leaving the rows one rod apart, and the 

 trees half a rod apart in the row. I have occupied the ground 

 between the rows as a nursery. 



I wash my trees often, as recommended in Cole's Fruit Book, 

 as I think it not only promotes the growth of the tree, but is 



