54 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



but the surest method of obtaining them, is by engrafting. We 

 have, however, never found any difficulty in raising at least a 

 great proportion of fine fruited bushes, from seeds of the finest 

 sorts. In regard to the cultivation of this fruit, we apprehend 

 it to be a delusion to suppose that quince trees want a wet and 

 shady position, and that they do not require manuring. On 

 the contrary, they should be set in good loam, and the earth 

 should be loosened deeply, or ti'enched by double spading, and 

 well manured with a good compost in the drills. Shorten in 

 the branches, (one-half of the last year's growth,) give the roots 

 a good drenching with water at the time of setting out, (not 

 after,) leave the soil around the stem, concave ; place them 

 ten feet apart, and the rows twelve feet ; prune just after the 

 fall of the leaf, or early in March ; fork in, late in the fall, three 

 four shovels full of fresh manure. After loosening around the 

 trees in sy3ring, you may then give the whole a broadcast of salt. 

 In this connection we would remark, that as a general com- 

 post for fruit trees, we consider nothing superior to that formed 

 of wood ashes and peat, with an admixture of salt. 



Cranberries. — Your committee, upon the upland culture of 

 the cranberry, would respectfully report : 



That upon the above culture of this valuable fruit, we would 

 premise that, in our opinion, the Essex county as well as 

 other societies in this State, have been heretofore rather pre- 

 mature in their recommendation of this mode of culture. As 

 " one swallow does not make a summer," neither will one 

 experiment justify us in commending this method. All know 

 that the cranberry is natural to the meadow, and although the 

 covering with water may be injurious at the time of flowering, 

 as well as at the time of setting its fruit, still, the flooding of 

 the vines in winter, or the covering with litter or evergreens to 

 protect the roots, as is practised in the upland culture, will 

 prevent the culture of this fruit to any extent. 



In order to be made remunerative, these beds or patches 

 must be made on the meadow, or upon a springy soil. Your 

 committee visited, this fall. Mi*. Needham's fine cranberry patch 

 in Danvers, which is upon upland, so called. We found the 

 owner, with his man, in the process of hand-weeding, thus 

 late in the season ; and to the inquiry as regards the labor in 

 weeding, how it would compare with the same area of straw- 



