108 



deed, few peacli orchards or pear orchards ■will be allowed to 

 remain in coming times without this protection. 



3dly. Mulching in times of drought prevents evaporation, and 

 thus secures sufficient moisture and a consequent abundant supply 

 of the gaseous elements, contained in the moisture, which composes 

 the food of plants and trees. For deprived of the nutritious ele- 

 ments thus held in solution in water by the drying up of the soil, 

 the young tree, recently planted, withers, fades and dies ; the 

 larger trees languish, the leaves grow yellow, the fruit is either for 

 the most part knerly and imperfect, or drops prematurely from 

 the tree, while that which remains and matures goes swiftly to de- 

 cay after it is gathered. Of these evils, mulching is the greatest 

 cure yet discovered, and its effect always is to produce a healthy, 

 thrifty, generovis growth, with fair, juicy, abundant and lasting fruits. 



Your Committee have awarded the following premiums for the 

 most staple fruit of New England : — 



Ajjples. — For the best collection of Apples, to William Clapp, of 

 Dorchester, 1st premium, ..... $5.00 



Hon. Benjamin V. French, of Braintree, 2d, . . 3.00 



Moses Kingsbury, of Dedham, 3d, .... 2.00 

 For the best dish of Apples, not less than one dozen specimens : 



To Mrs. Amos Wood, of Dedham, .... 2.00 



Your Committee also awarded diplomas to the following per- 

 sons, for the beautiful specimens, and in many cases valuable col- 

 lections presented by them, — the Committee having exhausted the 

 premiums within their gift. 



To Edward M. Richards, of Dedham, collection of Apples and 

 Pears ; A. W. Stetson, of Braintree ; Thomas Barrows, of Ded- 

 ham ; Calvin Bigelow, of Dover ; Richard Richardson, of Med- 

 way ; A. Richardson, of Medway ; Jesse Farrington, of Dedham ; 

 Wm. Whiting, of Dedham ; Francis Guild, of Dedham ; Dr. Fran- 

 cis Howe, of Dedham ; Dr. Eben Wight, of Dedham ; Ira Cleve- 

 land, Esq., of Dedham ; John Drayton, of Dedham ; J. W. Page, 

 of West Roxbury. 



Also, to Lewis Bullard, Esq., of Dedham, for the "Honey 

 come eat me " Apple, from a tree 200 years old, planted by the 

 Rev. John Allin, the first minister of Dedham, with the request 

 that Mr. Bullard furnish the Secretary an inscription to insert in 

 the Diploma. 



