90 



enhanced by the kindness and hospitaHty with wliich they 

 were received and entertained. 



After examining the orchards, and carefully perusing the 

 accompanying statements, we have decided to award the 

 following premiums : 



To Ephraim Graham, of Lunenburg, for his Apple 



orchard, No. 1, the first premium of, $8,00 



To Ephraim Graham, of Lunenburg, for his Apple 



orchard. No. 2, the second premium of, 4,00 



To Jabez Fisher, of Fitchburg, for his Pear orchard, 



the first premium of, 10,00 



So much information is now spread before the community 

 through the medium of books, newspapers, and public 

 lectures on the subject of fruit trees and orchards, that it will 

 not be possible for your Committee to entertain you with 

 any original matter on the subject that will be worthy a 

 place in the agricultural literature of Worcester County, 

 The most we can attempt to do, is to reiterate some truths 

 that we deem important. 



And first, in the planting of an orchard it is very impor- 

 tant that a correct judgment should be exercised in the selec- 

 tion of the spot for its location. For it is not a temporary 

 location, to be easily changed if we find we have made a 

 foolish blunder, but is one for life, and has much to do with 

 success in the matter. It should be shielded as much as pos- 

 sible from the west and north winds. The south-east slope 

 of a hill may be considered a favorable position, and a deep 

 loamy soil the best. 



Second, the soil in which the trees are planted should be 

 kept under cultivation for the first four or five years. Thus 

 the ground being often stirred, is kept light, and the young 

 roots are thereby furnished more readily with air, moisture 

 and nutritious gases, and solutions of substances in the soil, 

 by which the trees are made to acquire a more rapid growth, 

 assume a more thrifty appearance, and become in all re- 

 spects a better type of what is known as " Young America," 



