39 



cumstances prevented. Some of tlie members of the Society's 

 Committee having charge of this subject, examined the trees, and 

 will, probably, report on them. In a call at Mr. M.'s residence 

 for a few moments, — which was all the time at our disposal, — we 

 saw that he was entering considerably into grape cultivation. The 

 varieties adopted were mostly the best wild ones, though the Con- 

 cord, Diana, and others are cultivated. The vines are not yet 

 fully established, but appear to be doing well, and produced con- 

 siderable fruit last season, unfavorable as it was. 



S. W. Richardson, Franklin, President of the Farmers' Club, 

 has made some improvements on his farm Avhich are worthy of no- 

 tice. Much of his land lies on the side of a considerable swell, 

 and the soil is made cold and sour by a soak of water, while the 

 subsoil has an almost impenetrable " hard-pan," formed by a de- 

 posit of iron. In this condition of the soil and subsoil, nothing of 

 much value would grow ; the land was overrun with low shrubs, 

 intermingled with rushes and other aquatic vegetation. Some 

 trials which ^veve made in drainage a few years ago, indicated 

 that it was very beneficial to this land, and Mr. 11. has lately 

 gone into the business on a larger and more systematic scale. A 

 piece of wild pasture, hitherto almost Avholly unproductive, was 

 drained in the wettest spots, ploughed and planted to Indian corn 

 last spring, — a portion manured with 200 lbs. of superphosphate 

 of lime, and another portion with the same quantity of ground 

 bones, to the acre, applied in the hill at the time of planting. A 

 good crop of corn — estimated at forty bushels to the acre — was 

 obtained. The manures used seemed to hasten the growth and 

 maturity of the corn, for though it was what might be called fi-osty 

 land, the crop was all sound and of the best quality. On a small 

 portion of the field, wood ashes and plaster were used, in conse- 

 quence of the superphosphate and bones having been expended. 

 The same value per acre was used of the ashes and plaster as had 

 been used of the other articles. The result was very strikingly 

 in favor of the superphosphate and bones, as was shown by por- 

 tions of the crop where all the articles were applied, being stand- 

 ing at the time of our visit. The crop was not only lighter where 

 ashes and plaster Avere used, but it was not so well ripened. 



Mr. R. has now dug ditches, at distances of about two rods, on 

 another lot, and will complete the drains before the opening of 

 another season. The ditches are about two and a half feet deep, 

 and about a foot in depth of small stones forms the drains. Mr. R. 

 has not tried tiles, as stones are very abundant on his land. We 

 would suggest that tiles laid in one of the ditches — stones being 

 used on either side — would settle the question as to which will 

 best answer the purpose, without much expense. 



The general appearance of Mr. Richardson's farm indicates that 



