154 The Cultivation of the Pear. 



remaining were yet only indifferent trees. He had made up 

 his mind that if he had buried his seventy-two dollars in the 

 soil, he would have been much better off now. 



Mr. Brfxk wished to add his experience in regard to poor 

 trees. A few years ago he was passing an auction room, 

 where a lot of Seckel pear trees were offered ; wishing to 

 get some of this variety, then rather scarce, he bought fifty 

 dollars' worth ; they looked very well in the bundle. Set 

 them out carefully, and they scarcely made any wood ; in 

 fact, they looked so badly side of other trees the next year, 

 that he pulled up three quarters of them ; the others re- 

 mained ; a few started from their bottoms and made^ a tolera- 

 ble growth ; others he continued to cut down till scarcely an 

 original tree remained fit to sell. If he had buried his money 

 he would have been much better off. 



Mr. Cabot had but little to add to what he had already 

 advanced. He could not wholly agree with Mr. Hovey. 

 He understood him to say that he would not head in good 

 trees, but in certain cases he would prune, particularly im- 

 ported trees. He had received many imported trees so dry 

 that he had to throw them into a pond of water to recover 

 them. Yet they had grown well. 



The leaves of trees act as so many forcing pumps — as 

 absorbents — as lungs, throwing off water, &c. It is expedient 

 to cut in trees, as you cannot get all the roots — and the roots 

 will not take up as fsist as the respiration of the leaves. Mr. 

 Hovey says that when the roots are much destroyed he would 

 head in ; when not mutilated he would not cut in at all. 



Adjourned one fortnight. 



Saturday^ February l^th. — Mr. Stickney in the chair. 

 The Importance of Mulching Pear Trees was taken up at 

 this meeting. 



Mr. Walker stated that much had been said about tan for 

 mulching. He had used tan, sawdust, litter, leaves, &.C., but 

 he believed short new-mown grass one of the best things ; 

 he had mulched a great deal with it, and found that it laid 

 close to the soil, and when covered with a few stones around 



