MPv. proctor's address. 35 



ment, for fi'uit, or for timber, is an object that demands 

 much more attention than has been given to it. I have 

 not time to speak as I would like, ol" the cuhivation ot" 

 fruit trees, — of the increasing attention hitely ijiven to 

 the subject. — of the many and valuable varieties of 

 apples, pears, &c. cultivated by our horticultural friends 

 in Salem, Lynn, Haverhill, and other towns; — but can 

 simply say, that there is no branch of husbandry that 

 yields a more certain and ample reward, and that the 

 demand for good fruits of every description seems to be 

 in advance of the supply. 



Very early in the history of the Society were facts 

 stated by D\\ Nichols, in relation to the cultivation of 

 the locust tree, highly worthy of regard. Having myself 

 witnessed similar facts, I am fully persuaded that in no 

 way can our barren and gravelly pastures be so advan- 

 tageously used, as by covering them with the locust, 

 which may readily be done, either by planting the seed, 

 or by here and thei"e transplanting a tree, and allowing 

 them to spread, as they are much inclined to do. Lands 

 thus managed I have known to yield posts and rail road 

 sleepers, that sold for more than one hundred dollars 

 per acre, for ten acres together, within forty years from 

 the first planting, — which during this period had been 

 of more value for pasturing in consequence of the trees 

 growing thereon. For it is a fact, that the feed both in 

 quantity and quality, under and about the locust tree, is 

 better than where there are no trees. Take into view 

 also the increasing demand for this kind of timber, for 

 rail roads, fencing, trunnels for ships, and other purpos- 

 es, and the rapidity of its growth, advancing so rapidly 

 that those wdio plant may gather, and it will not be easy 

 to find an object more worthy the attention of the own- 

 ers of such unproductive lands. 



Suppose our farmers should set out rows of the locust, 

 the sugar maple, the ash, the elm, or the larch, by the 

 borders of their fields, by their pasture fences, or by the 

 road side, — and in this way start a growing from fifty to 

 one hundred trees to each of their acies, — would their 

 other crops in any manner be prejudiced thereby ? — 



