38 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



what price, or to hold it a while. Give the reports more study 

 and make greater use of them. 



Apples are hard to estimate satisfactorily ; grown over great 

 areas; under every irregularity and subject to so many pests 

 and variable bearing habits. Careful study is being made of this 

 crop by the field agent. An orchard survey is planned for 

 Maine, to be made this winter. It will be a practical inventory 

 of the apple industry. When completed, it will be used as the 

 basis for organizing a special staff of apple growers and dealers 

 who will make the reports on this crop. Besides these growers 

 and dealers, other persons such as the county agricultural agents*, 

 certain railroad officials who give attention to the crops are con- 

 sulted. 



It is hoped that fruit growers will more generally cooperate 

 with us in extending and improving the service for their crops. 

 You will have an opportunity to assist in the orchard survey and 

 in reporting the apple crop. Seventy-five per cent of our regular 

 reporters make replies each month ; but thus far, only thirty- 

 three per cent of the fruit growers have replied. Now that 

 you see the need for and value of the reports, I earnestly urge 

 you to give us more generous and prompt assistance. When you 

 receive an inquiry, do not put it aside indefinitely, but give 

 careful thought for a day or two, then fill out as well as you 

 can and mail it promptly. 



Question : Cannot we use the word crop or full crop in place 

 of this normal crop, as a standard? 



Mr. Eraser: What would you call the full crop on an acre 

 here in New England — how much per tree or per acre ? 



Mr, Sanders : We never have figured it quantitatively, that 

 is, we have not tried to work out what would be a normal or full 

 crop per tree. 



Question: A tree thirty-five to fifty years old, three barrels 

 to the tree is a good crop. 



Mr. Sanders : Well, that sort of a standard has been sug- 

 gested, but we never have thought we had sufficient reason to 

 specify any particular quantity of fruit per tree as a good crop. 

 There are certain difficulties involved that make that sort of a 

 standard impracticable. Mr. Yeaton, let us have your judgment. 



Mr. Yeaton : Well, it seems to me that a full crop would be 

 wTiat the average farmer's trees had produced in the average 



