230 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



past all living properties. He gave but a mere nominal sum for 

 them, and took them home and cut off all the tops, nearly to 

 the main stem, and set them out on a gravelly knoll, where he 

 had taken off all the top soil to make a pear garden, on another 

 part of his land, and now used the gravelly spot for a poultry 

 yard, (al)out a quarter of an acre.) The result has been much 

 beyond his expectations, as these trees are now in the most 

 thrifty condition, both in tree and fruit. They were set from 

 five to eight feet apart, and now the ground is shaded from the 

 sun, and they are bearing tlie finest specimens of many leading 

 varieties. There is not a blade of grass, or any weeds growing in 

 the enclosure. The branches mingle one with another, and 

 thus they protect each other from the prevailing south-west 

 winds, that sweep over the island during the summer months, 

 which, if the trees were single, or forty feet apart, the foliage, 

 as well as the fruit, would be destroyed. 



The two pear orchards, that are doing as finely as the best 

 located gardens near Boston, are planted so thickly that one has 

 to stoop, and get through as life would in a swamp. The land 

 was. well prepared in each. The result is, very fine crops of the 

 largest Bartletts, and many leading sorts. As all of the above 

 mentioned trees have been in bearing for several years past, with 

 like good results, we feel assured that this is the only plan that 

 can be adopted to insure a good return for cost and labor. 



James Thompson. 



Some discussion followed, upon the devastations of birds 

 xipon our fruits and orchards, and other points suggested in the 



Report, which was accepted. 



% 



Tuesday, Feb. 6th. 



The Board met at 10 o'clock. Mr. Tidd in the chair. 

 Voted, To appoint a Committee on Credentials of new 

 members, Messrs. Garfield, Hubbard and Thompson. 

 Mr. Keith submitted the following Report upon 



THE RELATIVE VALUE OF MILK. 

 Tlic Committee appointed to report upon the relative value of 

 milk for the various purposes for which it is used, have exam- 

 ined the subject, as far as their time and observation will permit, 



