420 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



doubtless are most desirable, being native and specific to the 

 pear, — or in any well-tilled soil that is retentive of moisture, 

 orchards of this so various and delicious fruit might not be 

 grown as easily and as universally as those of the apple, and 

 made to bear more regularly and abundantly, as is the nature 

 of the pear to do. And we believe that a large orchard of 

 Bartletts, Andrews and Flemish Beauties, or a plantation sev- 

 eral acres in extent of Onondagas, (Swan's Orange,) Lawrences, 

 and Columbias, would be one of the grandest and most glorious 

 horticultural experiments that could be tried in New England, 

 and would in the end bless the originator with the richest golden 

 harvest ; and we hope speedily to see encouraging prizes offered 

 by our various agricultural societies for such orchards and 

 plantations of pears. We have space, however, in this report 

 to dwell only upon one point in fruit culture, suggested partly 

 by the past season, which has been so peculiarly distinguished 

 by the excessive coldness of its winter, and the severe, long- 

 protracted, and extensive drought of its summer; and this is 

 the subject of " mulching " our fruit trees. 



There are three grand difficulties that beset the common 

 farmer \n his efforts for the growth and perfection of his fruit 

 trees and fruit, from which, indeed, the most learned, skilful, 

 and accomplished fruit grower cannot wholly escape : — 



1st. The labor, expense, and difficulty of properly enriching 

 and tilling the soil around his trees. 



2d. The great severity of our winters ; or, more correctly, 

 the violent changes from warmth to cold, and the sudden and 

 alternate freezing and thawing that distinguish the wet season, 

 or the winters and springs, of our climate, and that often prove 

 so destructive to trees and vines of various kinds. 



And the 3d, and perhaps greatest trouble of all, the frequent 

 length of our dry seasons, and the excessive severity of our 

 droughts. 



It would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to name any one 

 thing that would prove a perfect panacea for all these evils, and 

 that could cure them all by one and the same application ; and 

 yet we will venture to assert that the practice of thoroughly 

 mulching our trees will approach nearer to such a panacea, and 

 will prove more effectual in the removal of these difficulties, 



