30 

 ORCHARDS. 



The committee on Apple and Pear Orchards for 1871-73 have performed 

 their duty and report as follows: First of all we notice the careless manner in 

 which the "infant tree" is set, as though rugged, tough, and able to stand alone, 

 without a parent, (or even a cane) for protection against the cold, bleak winds, 

 with rain, hail and snow, and the thirty below zero. They live, starve and die 

 in many cases for want of care and protection. That care wiiich is as neces- 

 sary for a healthy, sound growth, as that of a tender babe, continually watching 

 its progress and habits. If the tree-top in its growth inclines to huddle, it may 

 be spread to suit the taste by using cobs and sticks as braces from the branch 

 to the trunk of the tree. Use as mauy as are necessary to give the tree-top a 

 satisfactory shape, and trim accordingly. Mulching of the young orchard is of 

 very great importance, it matters but little what is used for that purpose, but 

 don't throw away anything. The alkalies and salts are the most natural and 

 healthy invigorator for the growth of fruit trees, and perfection of the fruit. 

 Use it freely, not by merely washing the body, but take a pail full of good 

 strong suds to a medium sized tree, throwing it through the branches as you 

 walk around it, thereby cleansiug them of the most troublesome insect, (the 

 bark louse,) also the moss which gathers upon the branches, giving general 

 health and vigor to the tree, root and branch. Throw ashes on and about all 

 fruit trees in spring and fall, or in fact at any season of the year when you have 

 the time and material to do with, but don't fail to do your duty. It is just as 

 easy to discover that you have a sick tree as that you have a sick horse. The 

 one will let you know by its groans, and the other by its foliage and general ap- 

 pearance. There is no end to suggestions and theories in regard to fruit grow- 

 ing. Different fruit on different soil; of course some will do well while others 

 will prove a failure. By observation we can judge what varieties of fruits do 

 best in certain localities, which is the only real valuable information to be ob- 

 tained upon judgment and principle. We must be patient, watching and wait- 

 ing for good results to repay us for our labor aud expense in the cultivation of 

 a fruit orchard. The peach, the most delicious of all fruit, may be as success- 

 fully raised in Berkshire as in many other places, with a more favorable climate 

 and a sure crop, an occasional full crop which pays a large percentage, and 

 should be an encouragement to us all to set, reset, and keep setting. Faith and 

 perseverance will accomplish wonders, and guarantee payment in full for all 

 expenses in the cultivation of the peach. We award as follows: 



Best Apple Orchard, Elihu Church, Alford, $10 00 



2d do., D. C. Millard, Egremont, 8 00 



3d do.. Elisha Collins, Great Barrington, 6 00 



Best Pear Orchard, Wm. Sprague, Alford, 10 00 



2d do., John M. Cooper, Stockbridge, 8 00 



Ralph Little, 

 N. B. Curtiss, ) 

 Phineas Pettis, 



BEST MANAGED FARMS. 



The Committee to whom was referred the awarding of the special premiums 

 for the best managed and improved farms respectfully report that twenty-three 

 farms were entered for examination. In 1872 two of them were withdrawn 

 from competition leaving only twenty-one for examination in this year. In the 

 spring of 1873 one of the competitors sold out, thus reducing the number in final 

 competition to twenty. One of the members of the Committee, Mr. Burtch, 

 of Sheffield, has not been able to attend to its duties in either year, and the ex- 

 amination and award have therefore devolved upon the other two, who have 

 e ach year in the months specified in the instructions, inspected minutely the inaii-. 



