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referred to in the accompanying statement of Mr. Brooks are 

 situated on the east and west slopes of said swell ; what he 

 calls his west orchard is near the bottom of the slope and lies 

 open to the west wind, the land in that direction rising but 

 little from a plain ; the trees in this orchard are five years from 

 the setting, and the ground has been cultivated with some 

 hoed crop every year except the second, when oats were rais- 

 ed. The orchard on the east slope (called east orchard in the 

 statement,) reaches to the valley, which is narrow, and a large 

 hill or swell runs on the east side, so that this orchard is well 

 protected from east and west winds, and in fact from all winds ; 

 this was planted with the trees in the Fall of 1848 ; has been 

 in grass from three years before that time. The soil of this 

 orchard the Committee thought better than that on the west side 

 for trees, but being in grass they were somewhat at a loss to 

 understand why these trees should have made better growth 

 than the trees in the west orchard, which have been cultivated 

 as above stated. Mr. Brooks' trees have been injured by the 

 borer, and we think by the potash water. He has, however, 

 taken the best method known to eradicate the first evil — and 

 with a good will — and has resolved to make his liquor a little 

 weaker, if he does not abstain from the ' critter ' altogether. 

 Mr. Brooks, Sr., gave as a reason, for planting the trees in the 

 west orchard but twenty-five feet apart, the exposed situation 

 of the lot to the west winds ; that when grown they would 

 protect each other ; that the wind would have less power than 

 on trees less thickly planted. Mr. Brooks is a practical farmer, 

 of large experience, whose opinion on any subject connected 

 with Agriculture, is entitled to much consideration. 



We have received statements from all who entered orchards, 

 except Mr. AVorks, and they accompany this report ; these 

 statements are not as full and particular as we could wish. 

 Our examination of their several orchards has convinced us 

 that potash, as a wash for trees, should be used with more 

 caution than is generally used. The orchard of Mr. Works 

 was injured, we think, very much by the potash with which 



