100 MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 



main branch, and leave three or more to form the tree. I gen- 

 erally leave three. When the trees are young, the little spurs 

 that start out should be left on, for the purpose of making the 

 body of the tree stout, so that it will not bend over. Any 

 shoots that are starting out to make large limbs where they 

 are not needed, should be cut off. In regard to borers, I have 

 never as yet discovered one about the trees. Wherever I have 

 found the caterpillar eggs, I have taken them off and burnt 

 them. If any escaped my observation, until hatched, I have 

 taken them off' and destroyed them. All other worms have 

 shared the same fate. 



Wilmington, Sept. 20, 1852. 



James O. Freeman^s Statement. 



Sirs, — The orchard I offer for premium, contains 306 apple 

 trees : 64 set in the spring of 1844 ; 50 in the spring of 1846 ; 

 57 in the spring of 1847; 60 in the spring of 1848; 75 in the 

 spring of 1852. 



The land on which the trees are set, in every instance, (ex- 

 cept those set this present season,) has been ploughed the fall 

 before setting, it being sward land. I have dug my holes for 

 the trees, about two and one-half or three feet deep, and three 

 or three and one-half feet wide, filling the bottom part of the 

 hole with the sods that came from the top of the hole, and a 

 small quantity of peat mud, say one or two bushels, and filling 

 around the roots with loam from the top of the ground. In 

 the fall, after the trees were set, I applied about a bushel of 

 compost manure, well filled with ashes, around each tree. You 

 will understand that this last application was made the year 

 the trees were set, making only once for each lot of trees. I 

 have practised washing my trees with potash water, every year 

 but one since they were set, that year did not apply anything. 

 I cannot say in what proportion I make it, for I never weigh 

 it or measure the quantity of water. I always put my potasji 

 in a vessel, and pour some water to it, letting it dissolve as it 

 pleases. I then take some of the liquid and add a quantity 

 more of water to it, (judging of its strength by taste,) and with 

 a sponge apply it to the trees. I make it very weak for the 

 trees that have been set only a few months. I wash my trees 



