70 PEAR ORCHARDS. 



in the holes at the time of planting. After this time we see no reason 

 why green or unfermented manure may not be liberally spread broad- 

 cast on the surface. For the roots of young trees are not nourished by 

 eating manure, but by drinking in of the liquid, after being filtered 

 through the soil. We are of the opinion that the liquid portion of ma- 

 nure, after being drained through the soils, be it ever so green and 

 unfermented, is in fit condition to be used as plant food. 



Mr. Poor, of Somerville, says : " After twenty years' experience in 

 growing Pears, I am satisfied that any reasonable amount of manure 

 will not prove injurious to Pear trees three or four years old. 



PRUNING TREES. 



Mr. Downing recommends fall and winter pruning for fruit trees, 

 without regard to kind. Although this may be regarded as high au- 

 thority, yet our experience and observation controverts this theory. 

 It has of late come under our observation in regard to the Pear, as 

 well as the Apple, that a wound made in winter causes the limb to 

 check, and usully " dies down'^ for some distance, thus producing a 

 cavity between the wood and bark, and requiring a new cut to be made 

 in April, or as soon as the sap begins to ascend, instead of a cavity- 

 being formed between the bark and wood, there was a protuberance, 

 of bulofing out of new wood, formino; a rinsr between the bark and 

 wood. A layer of gum-shellac, or thick paint, applied at the time the 

 cut is made, serves to prevent checking, and hastens the growth, or 

 protuberance of new wood. 



For the Committee, 



EPFFxAI GPwVHAM, Chairman. 



The Chairman of this Committee, Eph'm Grraham, Esq.. being him- 

 self a competitor for the premiums, did not act with the other members 

 of the Committee in deciding upon the awards until they had unani- 

 mously decided to give him the first premium, and afterwards the whole 

 committe decided upon the second premium, viz :, 



For the best Pear Orchard of not less than fifty trees, all having been 

 set after January 1st, 1S66, we award to Ephraim Graham, 

 of Lunenburg, the first premium of $2-5.00 



To Geo. S. Houghton, of Fitchburg, second premium of 10 00 



The Committee desire to speak in commendation of the Pear Or- 

 chard of Capt Amos B. Holden, of Westminster, who has shown great 

 ability and success under adverse circumstances, in the cultivation of 

 many varieties of this luscious fruit, nud they regret that another pre- 

 mium is not at their disposal, that they might show their appreciation 

 of his efforts in this direction. Still, they are of the opinion that he 

 allowed too much fruit to remain upon his young trees, to ripen. 



The town of Westminster, from its exposed situation, is not considj 

 cred congenial to Fruit cultivation, yet Mr. Holden, in the opinion of 

 one, at least, of the Committee, from his garden plat, must have gath- 



