84 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



a great bearer ; a fine, tender apple, objected to by some as a 

 market apple on account of its size ; a fine apple to keep. 



Statement of Peter Wait of Danvers. 



I have about forty apple-trees and twenty or more kinds of 

 apples. My soil is mostly gravelly, with a strong clay sub- 

 soil. In regard to enriching, I think one of the best fertil- 

 izers is glue-dross. I have used much tan-yard waste, such 

 as old tan, lime, and hair, but to quicken and warm up my 

 trees, I use night manure. I apply it in the foil as a top- 

 dressing. 



My trees are mostly thirty years old, and upwards. In 

 regard to planting, I made use of no science, but simply dug 

 a hole sufficient to receive the roots, without manure or any 

 previous preparation. My treatment ever since has been top- 

 dressing, keeping them cleaned and well pruned. The borers 

 have been quite a trouble to me. I consider them the most 

 destructive enemy to the apple-trees we have to contend with. 

 The best treatment for them is a free use of soap about the 

 time they hatch. 



After using Mathews' protector for two or three seasons, I 

 have resorted again to printers' ink for the destruction of the 

 canker-worms. The caterpillar with me has almost become 

 extinct. Cluster-worms and fall caterpillars are easy to de- 

 stroy. * 



I prune my trees any time when convenient, except large 

 limbs, which I cut generally in the fall or early winter. I 

 keep my trees well pruned, taking off all useless twigs and 

 spurs. Wormy fruit I collect some three or four times in the 

 course of the season. I sell the best for what I can get, and 

 what is not sold or given away to those that have none, is 

 thrown into the hogpen. 



As the best apples for cultivation, all things considered, 

 I give the following : Baldwin, Rhode Island Greening, 

 Danvers Sweet, Seaver Sweet, Fall Harvey, Sweet Bald- 

 win, Hunt Russet, Roxbury Russet, Northern Spy, Garden 

 Apple, Hubbardston Nonsuch, Ben Apple, Gravenstein and 

 Porter. 



For table use, I give in order as they come : Early 



