28 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Eupposition is correct, that the difficulties to the fruit grower, referred to, may 

 be imputed to, at times, too much or too little rain, and to too great alterna- 

 tions from heat to cold or cold to heat, it behooves cultivators to endeavor by 

 some processes of cultivation to remedy the evils growing out of these causes, 

 and to try thereby to obviate their effects. And cultivators have this assurance, 

 that if a mistake has been committed in imputing certain specified effects to 

 certain causes, and the efforts adopted under this erroneous impression 

 should fail to obviate the evil, yet the processes that would most probably be 

 adopted for this purpose would have a generally very beneficial effect upon 

 their trees, upon their health and vigor, though such might fail in the object 

 intended ; underground draining, to carry off superflous water and prevent 

 its stagnating about the roots, and at the same time by draining the land ren- 

 dering it more permeable and subject to be more thoroughly operated upon by 

 atmospheric influences, and in this way tending to correct the evil arising 

 from too much or too little rain, is one of the processes that most likely would 

 be recommended and adopted to remedy the evil as above, supposed to grow 

 out of some of the peculiarities of our climate. But should it fail in the 

 object aimed at, should pears still continue to blight and crack, yet it is not to 

 be doubted that the draining of the ground would have a highly beneficial 

 effect upon the growth, the vigor, and health of the trees, remunerating the 

 outlay by the general amelioration of the soil. Indeed, underground draining, 

 one of the processes strongly urged as of great importance in preparing land 

 for growing fruit trees, by those who are considered as authority upon the sub- 

 ject of their cultivation, is being more and more generally practised, and is 

 one of those processes of husbandry that, indispensable under some conditions, 

 has been recommended as always exercising a beneficial influence under any 

 circumstances. Mulching, or covering the ground where fruit is cultivated 

 with litter, straw, or leaves, is anotlier expedient that probably would be 

 resorted to, to obviate the inequalities of climate and remedy the evils alluded 

 to. And this too, it is believed, though it should fail in the results aimed at, 

 would not fail to exercise a beneficial influence. The protecting the roots of 

 trees in winter, by even a slight covering, is useful, and in some soils even 

 absolutely necessary, not so much to guard against severe cold, tiiough even 

 in that respect it probably is of some efficacy, as to prevent the heaving of the 

 trees, by successive thawings and freezings of the ground, and in summer ia 

 useful to guard against the effects of intense heat or drought. 



The forced cultivation of fruit, in greenhouses or orchard-houses, cannot 

 be expected to become very extensively or generally practiced in this vicinity, 

 for the reason that it cannot be made to pay ; but must remain confined to 

 amateurs in gardening, and to such as wish in this way to obtain a luxury for 

 their own enjoyment. Some fine examples of this kind of culture, as applied 

 more particularly to grapes and peaches, have been exhibited the past season, 

 and the displays of it generally would compare favorably with those of past 

 years. Orchard-houses are coming somewhat generally into use in England, 



