84 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Chairman. I believe we have with us another member 

 of the Board who has for many years given his attention to the 

 cultivation of the apple — Mr. Clement. 



Asa Clement, of Dracut. I did not expect to be called upon 

 to-night to speak on this question, and I perceive that the audi- 

 ence has become considerably weary of the long sittings ; but 

 as you have called me up, I would like to ask one or two ques- 

 tions in relation to apples, and hope somebody will be able to 

 answer them after I get through, and that will be very soon. 



I have noticed lately — say for the last six years — that many 

 of the Baldwin trees, which look very healthy ordinarily, blos- 

 som fully but do not set much fruit, and what fruit does set 

 does not mature well ; it is small. We had, in the orchards 

 round Lowell last season, large numbers of Baldwin apple-trees 

 which blew full, but did not set much fruit, and what there was 

 was poor and insipid in quality, small in size, and knurly. Ordi- 

 narily, when fruit is thin on the trees, we expect it to grow a 

 little larger, or hope it will ; it seems to be thinned out natu- 

 rally ; but that has not been the case lately witli the Baldwin. 

 I cannot account for this fact, and I hope somebody will be able 

 to tell us the reason for the failure of the Baldwin apple. 



Then there is another thing. The Hubbardston Nonsuch, 

 with me, bears regularly alternate years, and they never have 

 done better, within my recollection, than in 1866 and 1868, the 

 two last bearing years. The tree bears enormous crops, and the 

 fruit is very fine. The Williams never produced such crops on 

 my grounds as last year. The Foundling, (some call it the 

 River apple in the vicinity of Boston, and some the Fontinelle,) 

 has produced remarkable crops this year in the vicinity of 

 Lowell, and others could be named ; while other varieties, which 

 blew well, have failed almost entirely. Now I would like to 

 know how to account for this. I cannot myself. 



I do not propose to detain you any longer, but I want some 

 one to tell me how it is that a few varieties bear well, and otliers, 

 with equal care and attention, fail. 



The Chairman. I presume my estimable friend, Colonel 

 Stone, a new member from the Norfolk Society, can answer 

 those inquiries. 



Col. Stone. — I know this audience is tired out with listening 

 to these remarks, and I think the question asked by our friend 



