124 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



the ground with roots and tomatoes, spreading cow, horse and 

 hog manure upon the surface. I fork up the soil in the spring 

 and full about the trees, and hoe about them the same as other 

 growing crops, and let nature do the rest. I might spend 

 more time with them, if I had it to spare, but by improving 

 the little spare moments, I have done as well as I could ; and 

 here is the result. Almost every young man in the country 

 may do the same, if lie will but improve his leisure moments, 

 instead of idling them away as many do. He may raise one, 

 and as many more as he can, and thus confer great blessings 

 upon those to come after him. Who can tell the blessings of 

 even one single apple tree thus raised ? And would it not be 

 well to encourage every young man to do something of the 

 kind, and thus save himself from many temptations, and per- 

 haps m^ich misery ? Let him set out one little tree, and see 

 what pleasure will be afforded in its cultivation. I, for one, 

 take much, in tlie cultivation of mine, and wish others may do 

 the same, and as much better as they can. 



HAMPDEN. 



Statement of H. M. Sessions. 



The apple orchard entered for premium consists of sixty-six 

 trees set in 1857, on about one and one-half acre of land, with 

 eastern exposure. The varieties were the Baldwins, Green- 

 ings, Russets, llurlbert, Danvers' Sweet, Ladies' Sweet, and 

 Hubbardston Nonesuch. The trees were raised in my own 

 garden, and about seven feet high when set. The ground was 

 broken up and cleared of stone the year previous to setting the 

 trees, it having been in pasture since the forests were cleared 

 off, nearly fifty years ago. A liberal coating of manure was 

 applied, and the ground thoroughly ploughed twice with a 

 side-hill plough, and cropped with turnips. The next spring it 

 was sowed with oats, and seeded with grass for mowing ; the 

 trees were set two rods apart each way, in holes two feet deep, 

 and three feet in diameter. The subsoil was spread over the 

 ground, and the holes filled with the soil and rich loam, carted 

 for the purpose. The land has been in grass since the trees 

 were set, it being liable to be washed by rains if under cultiva- 



