67 



than were shown at Danvcrs. They keep until November, and 

 are, as he says, "most excellent for sauce." Your committee 

 know how nice they were for eating. The tree is a thrifty 

 grower and good bearer. The tree, he thinks, was bought 

 from a New York nursery, for "twenty ounce" apple,. some 

 years ago. Any one interested, Avill find Mr. Newman ready 

 to give information on the subject. 



D. ^y, Low, Cliah'man. 



STATEMENT OF J. B. MAKSTOX, OF DANVEKS. 



With regard to the culture of apples, I would say that I 

 have in my garden a few apple trees of a])out fifteen years' 

 growth. I have but f^ur different kinds. The soil is well 

 fertilized. The subsoil is loam. With regard to the treat- 

 ment of young trees, I believe in thorough tilling of the soil, 

 keeping the ground light about the roots, and free from 

 weeds. To fertilize the soil, I use a compost of animal ma- 

 nure and decayed vegetation, together with a liberal share of 

 superphosphate of lime and wood ashes. This is .'ipplied to 

 the land in planting time, in the hills and rows, with a portion 

 around the trees, dug in with a fork. My plan of preparing 

 the manure is to fork over the compost heap, in early spring, 

 adding by degrees the superphosphate and ashes, until the 

 whole is well mixed. Then leaving it awhile to permeate and 

 heat through, it becomes in good condition for use. 



It is of the first importance, in my opinion, in the cultiva- 

 tion of apple trees, to take care of the roots. It is well to 

 look after and destroy the insects ; but if the roots are neg- 

 lected, I think that we shall find worms more plenty than 

 fruit. I don't believe in the way that some have of tearing 

 up the roots with a plough. It is better, I think, to kecjj the 

 ground light by digging around the trees with a fork. 



As for the insects, I am not much troubled with borers of 

 any kind ; when I find any in my apple trees, I choke them 

 with hard soap. The caterpillars are exorcised on the point 



