52 



dently the sole cause of this failure, as the trees never look- 

 ed more healthy and promising, than in the autumn before. 



This fall again we have reason to take courage and hope 

 for the best, and trust that at some future time, "vvhen we 

 have learned more [fully the requirements of the peach, we 

 shall be blessed with plentiful crops, as of old. We would 

 suggest to novices, however, who design to plant peach trees, 

 that they require a dry soil, thoroughly cultivated, but no 

 animal manure of any kind, but rather muck, and especially 

 potash in liberal quantities. The aim should be not to pro- 

 duce a late growth, but healthy, well ripened wood, which is 

 the only kind that will endure our winters. Trim out all 

 dead and sickly wood every year about the first of June. 

 Plant hardy and rather early varieties. Many kinds recom- 

 mended by nursery agents are too late, and will not ripen at 

 all in this latitude. For orchard culture, do not plant too 

 thickly. — 16 or 18 feet is near enough. Training upon 

 fences, and pegging down branches to be covered in winter, 

 is very pretty amusement for the amateur, and orchard house 

 culture for those who can afford it is very pretty and some- 

 times profitable. 



Premiums are annually offered for the best Baskets of As- 

 sorted Fruits, but scarcely ever more than two competitors 

 appear for the prizes, and these with very little variation from 

 year to year. Cannot others take hold in this department, 

 and give us something still more tasty and elaborate than we 

 are accustomed to see? It certainly would add much to the 

 attractions of the hall, besides giving us a little more pleasant 

 rivalry. 



Quinces, your Committee have taken under their special 

 charge, as neither the Committee on Apples nor Pears thought 

 they belonged to them. Two very nice plates of Orange 

 Quinces were presented, and both took the first premium ; 

 but certainly this fruit ought not to be overlooked, especially 

 as long as it brings such high prices and can be so easily 

 raised. 



