102 MIDDLESEX SOCIETY. 



good. After the rye was removed in the fall, I ploughed one- 

 half (three acres) and laid it down to grass. In the summer 

 of 1845, I planted the other three acres, dunging in the hill, 

 and spreading a little manure. I noticed the trees where the 

 grass was, in the fall, were much behind those where the 

 ground was planted. Besides, they were covered with innu- 

 merable quantities of lice, which I at once attributed to the 

 grass being among them, while the rest had no lice of any 

 consequence upon them. The next year I ploughed and 

 planted the whole six acres, which I have continued to do 

 every year since, spreading my manure, and dunging in the 

 hill, but not doing both in one year. I have whitewashed the 

 trees once, the year after so many lice gathered upon the half, 

 and I thought it had a tendency somewhat to remove them. 

 I have put a little muck around the trunks of the trees, and 

 once put some oyster shells about them. I have pruned the 

 trees every year till the present, which I deferred unintention- 

 ally. I usually prune in June. I have applied no " fancy 

 work" to the orchard, but have simply kept the ground 

 ploughed, and shall continue to do so. My motto is, " To 

 keep land ploughed where young trees are." I can now see a 

 difference between the trees where the grass was and the other 

 half. 



My treatment in regard to insects is simple. I have never 

 been troubled with borers and the like. In the spring I have 

 removed all the caterpillars that I could find, but have in no 

 other way been troubled with any kind of insects. In fact, I 

 have never tried any experiment, nor done any "fancy work," 

 in any way, shape, or manner. 



North Woburn, Sept. 1852. 



Pear Orchards. , 



Joseph T. Buckingham^ Statement. 



Gentlemen, — At your request, I send you a statement con- 

 cerning the pears, which you saw yesterday in my garden, — 

 as follows : — 



