l8 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



WEDNESDAY MORNING. 



ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT. 

 G. A. Yeaton, Norway. 



Ladies and Gentlemen: 



It gives me great pleasure to meet you here this morning, 

 and I want to express my thanks to you and the Portland 

 Chamber of Commerce for making this magnificent display of 

 fruit and flowers possible. Our object in coming together at 

 this time is to emphasize the slogan, "Better Fruit for Maine," 

 and show to the world that we can and do grow apples that, by 

 comparison, rank with the best that are produced in any part 

 of the country. 



We have felt in the past, and do now. that our big job is to 

 educate the grower to produce a quality of fruit which will 

 attract the attention of buyers from the markets of the world 

 to our state. This can best be done by having the men who 

 have grown apples under similar conditions and who have 

 worked out the problems, come to us and give their experiences 

 to guide us, and keep us from mistakes and teach us to grow 

 better fruit at less expense. We do not expect these men to 

 lay down any hard and fast rules which we must follow to the 

 letter, but rather to ofTer suggestions which can be used to our 

 advantage. We realize this year, more than ever before, that 

 the orchards must be sprayed thoroughly if we are to produce 

 fruit worthy to be branded "Maine Apples." We have many 

 fungous and insect pests which can be controlled by systematic 

 spraying, applied at the right time, with sufficient force to 

 drive the spray into every crevice, and cover the foliage and 

 fruit with a protecting film of the spray material. 



Fertilizing the orchard is another question which we hope to 

 have discussed fully, as there are many different opinions as to 

 the amount and kind to use, and the time to apply it. 



Cultivation to conserve the moisture is of so much impor- 

 tance that I hope we can spend some time in considering it. 

 Also the relative value of the different mulch systems. 



Grading and packing are among the things about which the 

 growers seem to be a little in doubt, judging by the numerous 

 letters of inquiry which have come to our office. 



