DISCUSSION ON APPLES. 85 



from Lowell is not so easily answered. I admit the fact that he 

 states, but why it is so is beyond my knowledge. I have been 

 very much interested and pleased with the discussion here this 

 evening. I think if our friend Strong would visit the orchard 

 of the Clapps, in Dorchester, he would find an orchard that 

 cannot be duplicated in this State or in the United States ; and 

 any gentleman who is anxious to learn anything in regard to 

 the cultivation of the pear or the apple, by going there can 

 receive instruction which may be of great advantage to him. 

 They are modest people, but very kind, excellent people, and 

 will be happy to give any one all the information in their pos- 

 session that they can. They will tell you just what to do, and 

 you may judge for yourself. There are no more skilful culti- 

 vators of the pear or the apple in New England than your 

 neighbors, Mr. President, the Clapp Brothers. 



But it is time we were closing our meeting, and I will not 

 detain you. 



Tiie Chairman. My young friend has not been accustomed 

 to being out in the evening. 



It would be pleasant to discuss this subject of the apple 

 further. We have some eminent growers with us. Among 

 them I notice General Newhall, of Lynnfield. Shall we hear 

 from him ? 



Gen. Newhall. Mr. President, I came this evening for the 

 purpose of hearing remarks upon the cultivation of the apple, 

 not thinking that I should be called upon to say anything in 

 relation to the subject. I have, however, had some experience 

 in the cultivation of the apple. The objection has frequently 

 been made to its cultivation by younger men than myself, that 

 they would reap but little benefit from it themselves. So far as 

 my own experience goes, I can state this. Some years ago I 

 found that the trees upon my place were so old, that if young 

 trees were not planted I should have no fruit in a few years. 

 Therefore, in the first place, I planted a nursery of trees, culti- 

 vated those trees, set them out, and I have gathered some years 

 hundreds of barrels of Baldwins and Roxbury Russets from 

 those trees. Among the best results I ever had, I gathered 

 from three trees four barrels each after they had been set but 

 nine years. They were set upon a deep, alluvial soil, somewhat 

 rocky, and the trees grew remarkably well. I remember, when 



