72 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ble, worthless trees from parties out of the State, instead of buying 

 of nurserymen here, of whom we have a plenty of honest and relia- 

 ble men. Another cause of discouragement is improper location 

 and treatment. Some have planted on flat and heavy soils, with- 

 out a suitable preparation by underdraining, and the trees have 

 soon become stunted and worthless. Others have planted on rich 

 sandy soils, which has induced a rapid growth of wood, and con- 

 sequently an early decay. Such orchards while they live will 

 occasionally produce a large crop, but are not to be depended 

 upon. Still another cause of discouragement is to be found in the 

 ravages of the borer. 



The first of the above mentioned causes can be overcome by 

 simply purchasing of honest and reliable nurserymen of our own 

 State ; or, if one prefers to raise his own trees, by selecting seeds 

 from rugged and vigorous growing varieties, and planting in 

 moderately rich soil, letting them remain until they have attained 

 sufficient size to transplant into the nursery or orchard. 



The second may be overcome by planting on high, rocky and 

 moist soils, of which this State furnishes an abundance. 



The third and last difficulty is one which is not so well under- 

 stood generally as either of the others. 



There are some localities where this pest of the orchard does lit- 

 tle harm, but there are many more where he does work, and cultiva- 

 tors are not aware of it. The jack knife and wire are the best rem- 

 edies known. 



The decay of our old orchards is to be attributed mainly to inju- 

 dicious pruning, want of nourishment, and perhaps in some meas- 

 ure to a few unfavorable seasons which we have recently had. 



The question then arises can they be restored ? We answer 

 yes, in a large number of instances ; and we cannot better explain 

 how, than by citing an instance which has come under the obser- 

 vation of one member of the Committee. Mr. J. M. Richardson of 

 Androscoggin county, restored such an orchard by simply mulch- 

 ing with brakes to the depth of ten inches, and in some instances 

 the application of a small amount of barn yard manure. Mr. Rich- 

 ardson is more successful than almost any oTher man in his town 

 in the cultivation of the apple. He mulches his young trees not 

 only to make them vigorous and healthy, but to protect them from 

 mice.* 



* If Mr. Richardson finds deep mulching /o prevent the ravages of mice or vermin, 

 hia experience differs very materially from that of some other cultivators. — [Ed. 



