MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 87 



With or without a premium, we can conceive of his feeling 

 himself abundantly recompensed, who can stand upon what 

 was once a quaking bog, or an impenetrable swamp, and see 

 the surface of the earth covered with sweet grasses, and en- 

 amelled with flowers. It is no figure of speech when we say 

 of such a man, that flowers spring up beneath his feet. The 

 experiment of John F. Rice, of Marlboro', evinced much skill 

 and perseverance. His plans are still in progress, and we have 

 no doubt when accomplished, they will prove alike praise- 

 worthy and profitable. Wm. Brown, of Concord, has brought 

 his experiments more nearly to a successful termination. His 

 drains have been distributed with excellent judgment, and his 

 meadows are now repaying him an hundred fold the care be- 

 stowed upon them. 



In regard to apple orchards, your committee have a word of 

 caution as well as of praise to utter. To most farmers the 

 training of fruit trees, is a matter even less understood than the 

 scientific management of a farm. But while an error in farm- 

 ing may be corrected at any time, a mistake in the early stages 

 of the growth of an orchard cannot, perhaps, ever be corrected. 

 The oft quoted line of the poet, " Just as the twig is bent, the 

 tree 's inclined," is better understood of education, than of 

 orchard growing. Your committee have visited orchards of 

 which great care had evidently been taken, so far as keeping 

 the earth in good order was concerned. The growth of new 

 wood was rapid and healthy ; but it seemed to have escaped 

 the notice of the owner, that great care was requisite to shape 

 the head of the tree in such a manner that its future growth 

 should be favorable to the bearing and ripening of fruit. In 

 several instances, we saw that great attention had been given 

 to this point, especially in the beautiful orchards of Mr. Shel- 

 don, in Wilmington, and of Mr. Buckminster, in Framingham. 

 Nor do we think that we over-estimate the importance of this 

 matter. Whoever wishes to have a beautiful and productive 

 orchard must begin at the beginning, and make himself familiar 

 with that method of pruning the young tree, which shall ensure 

 its full grown symmetry. Let this be neglected when the 

 orchard is young, and no subsequent treatment can atone for 

 the oversight. In connection with this subject your committee 

 had it in view to speak of the necessity of exercising great 



