96 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



large and good as usual this year — owing, I think, to the dry 

 weather. 



Hadley, September, 1854. 



Statement of Melzar Hunt. 



My nursery contains one hundred and fifty" apple trees of 

 different varieties — the Baldwin, Greening, Roxbury Russet, 

 Hubbardston Nonesuch, Bellflower, Winter Sweet, Russet, 

 <fcc. Most of them are three years old from the bud or 

 graft. 



My method of raising trees is, to sow the seed in the fall, in 

 drills — the rows three feet apart, and the trees six inches 

 apart in the rows. In April, after they have grown one year 

 from the bud, I transplant them, setting them two feet apart 

 in the rows. The budding is done when the trees are of a 

 suitable size, which is generally the second year. The ground 

 on which the trees are grown is spaded every spring, and hoed 

 as often as necessary to keep it from weeds. I cultivate some 

 other crop between the rows of trees, either carrots or pota- 

 toes. 



Sunderland, October 15, 1854. 



HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN. 

 Statement of Edward Clark. 



The young orchard at Rocky Hill was set out five years ago, 

 and contains two hundred and seventy-two trees, mostly Bald- 

 wins ; the old orchard has one hundred and sixty-eight trees — 

 making together four hundred and forty. 



The manner of planting the trees was, to dig the holes four 

 feet in diameter and about two and a half feet deep. The poor 

 dirt was thrown aside, and the good soil returned, with about 

 a load of compost made from muck, warmed up with bone dust 

 and ashes. 1 think I have twice planted a few hills of potatoes 

 around each tree with good effect, as the crop more than paid 

 for the labor, and the trees were kept free from Avecds, which I 

 consider of great importance. Otherwise the laud has been 



