26 



tlie leading rampant shoots, always cutting back close to a bud ; 

 selecting^ in every instance^ an outside bud, that the growth may 

 be outward and not inward ; and by thus cutting the outside of 

 the tree, the strength is not expended in terminal buds, the sap is 

 evenly distributed, and the fruit buds are thrown inward in a 

 wonderful manner, and equally scattered over the whole tree. 



We had hoped for a statement from Mr. Watt, embodying his 

 system of pruning for insertion here, which would have been in- 

 teresting and instructive, but have failed to obtain it. 



After a careful survey of the orchard, and of the many at- 

 tractions on the grounds of Mr. Bilhngs, (among which is "a hedge 

 of the arbor viti^ 500 feet in length, the most beautiful and per- 

 fect we have ever seen,) the Committee were invited to partake 

 of a sumptuous entertainment, where they tested the fruit of the 

 trees, and having passed an hour in pleasant, social converse, 

 adjourned, feeling that the day had been well and profitably spent. 



Mr. Billings has furnished the following particulars respecting 

 bis pear trees. '" I have about 325 trees. The varieties are 

 generally the eighteen kinds recommended for general cultivation 

 by the Massachusetts Agricultural Club, being the best varieties 

 of early, medium and late pears. A little more than half of the 

 soil occupied by my pear trees has been spaded and drained, the 

 balance in common cultivation. The trees do the best where 

 spaded and drained. The manure used has generally been our 

 common stable manure. I have occasionally used wood ashes, 

 and sometimes a top dressing of street scrapings, or the wash of 

 the roads." 



The Committee here insert a list of the varieties referred to by 

 Mr. Bilhngs, as recommended by the Massachusetts Agricultural 

 Club, knowing of no body of men in the County better qualified, 

 from long experience and extensive and successful cultivation, to 

 recommend a list of varieties for this locality. 



List of Pears Jar general Cultivation, recommended hi/ the Massachusetts 

 Agricultural Club, January, 18G7. 



Third Best. 



Belle Lucrative Sept. 



Paradise D'Automne,. .. . " 

 Beurre Superfin,. .Sept. fc Oct. 



Mai-ia Louise Oct. 



Beurre Clairgeau, " 



Vicar of Winkficld, Dec. 



Best Six Varieties. 



Bartlett, Sept. 



Seckel, '• 



Urbaniste, Sept. & Oct. 



Merriam, " " 



Sheldon Oct. & Nov. 



Beurre D'Anjou, .Nov. & Dee. 



Second Best. 



Brandywine, Aug. 



Doyenne Boussock, Sept. 



Swan's Orange, Oct. 



Howell " 



Buerre Bosc, Oct. & Nov. 



Lawrence, Dec. 



The Committee awarci the following premiums : — 



To Joseph H. Billings, Esq., of West Roxbury, for his pear 

 orchard, the 1st premium, |10. 



To Robert Watt, Esq., of West Roxbury, for his system of 

 pruning, as exhibited in the pear orchard of Mr. Billings, the 

 Society's diploma. 



Milton, Dec. 6, 18^6. A. K. TEELE, Chairman. 



