432 



NEW ENGLAND FAKMER. 



Sept. 



On entering the orchard the first thing that 

 strHck us with surprise was, that, with the ex- 

 ception of a few among the oldest trees, there 

 were no dead twigs or branches to be seen. 

 The trees were about eight or nine feet high, 

 very uniform in height, and were clothed with 

 a remarkably high-colored and vigorous foliage. 

 "Why are not these trees winter-killed?" 

 we inquired; "is that the reason?" pointing 

 to a liberal mulcUng of hay around each tree. 

 "That is the question usually asked by ob- 

 serving persons, on entering the orchard," he 

 replied. 



He said the base of the tree, and the roots 

 near it, must be protected from sudden changes, 

 and in accordance with that belief he hauled 

 four tons of meadow hay and straw into the 

 orchard and placed it about the trees. 



In connection with this practice, he heads 

 the branches in, annually ; not merely clipping 

 off the ends of the twigs, but cutting off the 

 upright branch just above where two side limbs 

 push out ; even when the upright branch is half 

 an inch or more in diameter. This induces 

 other lateral branches to push out below, which 

 soon give the tree a low and compact form. 



The soil of the whole seven acres is ledgy 

 and stony, and has a sort of yellowish color. 

 When worked, it is extremely light and friable, 

 very productive, and Mr. W. says, sustains 

 a drought better than heavy clay loams. All 

 the plants growing upon it gave evidence that 

 it contained highly fertilizing elements. Do 

 those elements come from the stones, in a con 



and had a little of the natural grape flavor 

 both in the taste and smell. Several ladies 

 and gentlemen present tasted it and pronounced 

 it the best native wine they had ever found. 

 He makes it in pretty large quantity and sells 

 it at $3 per gallon. 



Mr. Wilson formerly paid considerable at- 

 tention to the culture of the currant as a mar- 

 ket crop, but the peaches and grapes, have 

 absorbed his attention so much that he has al- 

 lowed that pursuit to become of secondary 

 consideration. 



Evidences of his passion for trees are on all 

 sides of his farm. Some splendid black wal- 

 nuts stand before his house, the butternut 

 lines the roadside, and young and beautiful 

 shell-barks greatly ornament what would oth- 

 erwise be waste places. All these are inter- 

 mingled, in some places, with lofty chestnuts, 

 white pines and other forest trees. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 NEW ENGLAND ENTERPRISE. 

 A compact tract of 540 acres of wood land, 

 much of which was heavily timbered, situated 

 about two miles from West Acton Depot, Mass., 

 has been known for many years as ;he "Inches 

 Estate,"— having been held by the heirs ot 

 Henderson Inches, of Boston. Four years 

 ao-o this estate was purchased by a gentleman 

 wlio cleared olf the wood and timber, and re- 

 sold the land in lots to suit purchasers ; an 

 operation by which he is reported to have 

 cleared about fifty thousand dollars. After 

 the removal of the wood, the land was sold tor 

 a hi<Th price for such land, but 



$:iO per acre, ^ —o-- r 



those elements come iron, tue »»..=. ... . ™.- , betag .by the side of a P^Wj'^; ■:»»'!• ^^ » /»'?j' 

 side^able degree? When .he ,and is in grass ^^rrsr-LLt^ltwaslfdCand ^ 



he states that the crops are usually abundant 

 Mr. Wilson has a large, and we should think, 

 excellent farm, and in good order, but he 

 stated to us that he can make more money from 

 the seven acres in question, than he could 

 upon /oiir farms like his. He does not suc- 

 ceed, however, in getting a crop of peaches 

 every year, perhaps not a full crop oftener 

 than once in three years,— but a partial crop 

 every year until the last, when he did not have 

 a peck. 



Another portion of this enclosure was occu- 

 pied with grapes, wildlings, taken from the 

 valleys around him, and a selection of the best 

 made I'rom a considerable number. They ap- 

 peared very vigorous, had a light crop of fruit 

 upon them, and are entirely hardy. The wine 

 made from them, was clear, quite dark in color. 



although somewhat rocky, it was in demand as 

 pasture land. 



Amono- the purchasers of this tract was ISIr. 

 Luke Blanchard, of West Acton, who bought 

 200 acres. He cleared up 150 acres of it the 

 first year ; putting 100 acres into winter rye, 

 seeding it to grass. The other 50 acres being 

 too wet for grain, were drained ; the ditche^ 

 bein" so arranged that the water can be held 

 backer let off at pleasure. Over a large part 

 of it, timothy, rcdtop, and fowl meadow have 

 come in, and where the water fiashes over, 

 blucjoint is showing itself. Those who have 

 luid experience in sul)duing such land wil ap- 

 preciate the amount of labor that must have 

 been expended upon these loO acres. 



The writer saw this land before Mr. Blanch- 

 ard commenced operations, and also while he 

 was at work upon it. A more uninviting held 

 of labor than the wet portion presented, could 

 not easily be found; covered, as it was, with 

 limbs, stumps and brush, with much of it qmte 



