14 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



way, also Mcintosh, while the Fameuse can be propagated, 

 with a reasonable degree of security, from seedlings. It is one 

 of the few varieties of apples which come relatively true to 

 type, from seed. Australia has gone so far as to stipulate that 

 all apples shall be propagated on Northern Spy roots. Northern 

 Spies are propagated either from cuttings or layers, and then 

 the variety is budded or grafted upon the same. The reason for 

 this is, that they have determined that the Spy is relatively 

 immune to root aphis. This is the only country where the root 

 system has been standardized. I believe that the man who first 

 secures an orchard on standard roots, which will give the maxi- 

 mum of efficiency, is the man who will win in the close fight 

 which is coming ; that it will be essential for us to pay attention 

 to this factor in the future, and that it is the logical development 

 to expect. We have passed from the day when we bought an 

 apple tree because it was an apple tree, to the time when we 

 bought a variety which we wanted, so we shall insist on having" 

 that variety on a root system which will be most efficient. 



As carried on at the present time, the custom is to secure our 

 seedlings, usually from France or the Middle West, although a 

 limited amount is now being grown in New England, and, after 

 thoroughly fitting the land, it is marked so that the rows will 

 stand forty inches apart. An opening is made by the trencher ; 

 the seedlings, which have been previously tied up in bunches of 

 fifty, are distributed down the rows, and gangs of men, work- 

 ing in twos, follow, one with a spade opening the trench a 

 little, the one holding the seedlings placing them at the back of 

 the spade so that they are pushed firmly down to the bottom 

 of the trench and are left standing erect. The seedlings are 

 firmed with a firmer which consists of two wheels which press 

 the earth tightly around the trunks, and this may be done a 

 couple of times, after which the rows are cultivated, the soil is 

 pushed around the young plants. If seedlings are planted they 

 are budded the following August ; the tops are cut off the next 

 spring and the plant is grown for two years, when it is sold as 

 a two-year bud. In the case of the root grafts, the grafting 13 

 done during February, the seedlings being planted the follow- 

 ing April or May and dug at the same time as the buds, so that 

 they have been in the ground three growing seasons, when they 

 are known as three-year grafts. They are just the same age as 



