ESSEX SOCIETY. 29 



In August following, I budded twenty-five hundred with the 

 best standard varieties, mostly winter fruit ; the buds took fine- 

 ly ; in several rows of one hundred each, scarcely a bud failed. 

 They have made a very straight, uniform growth this season. 



I practise shield or T budding, and put the bud on the south- 

 west side of the tree, the rows running southeast, they are then 

 not exposed to the sleet and snow of winter. I formerly lost 

 many buds by inserting them on the " back " side of the tree. 

 Another advantage in putting the bud on the south, is the greater 

 portion and quicker flow of sap on that side, as every one knows 

 that a bud takes best where there is the most sun and sap. I 

 learned, some twenty years ago, to take out the wood from the 

 bud, but soon gave up the practice. I should as soon think, 

 now, of taking out the pith of a scion. 



On a part of the ground on which these trees stand, the ma- 

 nure was ploughed in, and on a part, spread on the surface, in 

 equal quantities ; the latter is decidedly the best practice in nur- 

 series ; in fact, for any, and all crops, I have succeeded best, 

 where I followed nature, and apply the manure to the surface, 

 working it in with a harrow or cultivator, sufficiently to prevent 

 evaporation. I use any manure in a fine state, which I happen 

 to have when wanted, on the surface, working it in with a cul- 

 tivator, the rows being sufficiently wide to allow a horse to pass 

 without injury to the trees. I prefer, however, a compost, of 

 stable and hog manure one part, and two of muck and turf 

 from the brook. 



I have never manured the same piece of ground oftener than 

 once in three or four years. Much more depends upon good cul- 

 ture than high manuring, to obtain good healthy trees, besides 

 being much more valuable for planting in orchards, not being of 

 such "fungus" materials. 



To the query of the committee, whether I could suggest some 

 remedy to prevent young trees, as is common, from bending 

 with the wind, I would say, that I know of no better one, than 

 to raise strong stocks, that will throw up a vigorous shoot, able 

 to resist the action of the wind, and let all the leaves remain on 

 the trunk. The practice of many people of stripping them off, 

 is very injurious. 



