FRUIT-CULTURE. 81 



Committee, soon after the close of the annual exhibition, an 

 unsolicited statement in regard to their exhibits, whether it 

 be fruits or anything else, with items of their own experience 

 which may benefit others, thus adding to the stock of knowl- 

 edge, for the procurement and dissemination of which our 

 Society was formed. 



David W. Low, Chairman. 



Statement of Mrs. Lucy J. Pratt of Danvers Centre. 



Apples. — Our orchard is small, only about thirty-four 

 apple-trees, with some fourteen varieties. The soil is heavy 

 and black. The trees are all in a mowing field, and no par- 

 ticular enriching is used, except an occasional top-dressing 

 of good stable manure ; no digging round the roots or other 

 means are used, — they are simply let alone. 



Some half-dozen of the trees are quite old, but the remain- 

 der are young, very fair-shaped, flourish well, and bear well. 

 Of the starting of the orchard I cannot say, except that no 

 particular pains were taken with it above the average. 



The pill we prepare for caterpillars is simply a bristle brush 

 on a pole, — give it a few good twists, and step on them. 



The way we doctor canker-Avorms is much the same as 

 everywhere, but ours "may differ in some respects. We use 

 for protectors, instead of the tarred paper, enamel cloth, such 

 as wagon-tops are made of; then spread on the printing ink 

 as often as it requires, being sure, however, to keep it moist 

 all the time. Our neighbors use the paper, and are obliged to 

 renew it every year, while our enamel cloth will last two 

 years, and perhaps longer. The cost of course is more in 

 the beginning, but we think will be cheaper in the end. I 

 think no others have used this cloth in our neighborhood, 

 except on my father's and our own trees. But little prun- 

 ing is done, enough to keep them in pretty good order and 

 shape. The wormy fruit we keep picked up, and it is used 

 for animals. 



To the question of the five varieties considered the most 

 profitable, with my limited knowledge I would say, for early, 

 the Astrachan would lead. It is well and favorably known, — 

 n* 



