126 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



feet. I think we are not aware, usually, of the depth to which 

 our roots run. I have also seen a tomato root nine feet long. 



Col. Wilder. I once trenched a piece of strawberries, and 

 very barely manured it ; and I traced a strawberry root four 

 feet deep. 



Dr. Reed. How has the Flemish Beauty succeeded this year ? 

 Col. Wilder. This has been one of the favored seasons. 

 Two years ago we had continual wet weather, while the West 

 had the most beautiful dry season you could imagine. We have 

 had one of these fine seasons this year, and they have had too 

 much moisture ; their grapes have rotted and mildewed. My 

 impression is that the Flemish Beauty, and, I am sorry to say, 

 the Beurrd Diel, are coming to the same decadence, like the old 

 Virgaliens. But we shall have exceptional seasons, perhaps. 



Dr. LoRiNG. I agree with Col. Wilder in his compliments to 

 Mr. Moore's cultivation, when he states how successful he has 

 been in growing peaches. I have not the slightest doubt of it 

 in the world. He knows how to plant a peach-tree. And when 

 he tells how well he has cultivated strawberries, or how success- 

 ful he has been in raising apples, in and around Concord, I do 

 not doubt it at all. It is simply a proof of what I have said, 

 that certain soils are adapted to apples and certain soils not. 

 Every word he said confirmed my statement, that it is careful 

 cultivation and proper soils, and the application of manures 

 adapted to trees, and not adapted to field crops, that make a 

 man a successful fruit-grower. I do not want the farmers of 

 Berkshire to suppose for a moment that I would advise them to 

 cover their grass or strong grain and root lands with orchards, 

 because I do not think it is a kind of farming to which they can 

 devote themselves to a profit. I have said over and over again, 

 and it never has been controverted, that a judicious selection of 

 soils, (not soils devoted to heavy growing crops) a proper ap- 

 plication of mineral manures, phosphates and bones, and above 

 all, protection to the trees, will enable the New England farmer 

 to contend against the evils to which Col. Wilder has alluded. 

 We have more and more insects attacking our trees, and how 

 we are to avoid them, nobody yet knows. Man cannot do it, 

 birds cannot do it ; and as a last resort, there are those of us 

 who are experimenting with the utmost care to determine if it 

 is not in the power of man to let loose parasites to destroy them. 



