6 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



in the season. The reports sent out by the buyers seemed mis- 

 leading as to the quantity of fruit in the country, but later it 

 developed that the crop in other states was even larger than the 

 earlier reports indicated. The earlier prices received were from 

 $1.25 to $2.00, but the shippers claim that they all lost money, 

 which your secretary thinks must have been more than made up 

 to them later in the season. Many apples that were held in 

 cellars came out badly from the effects of scab. We are not aware 

 that this applies to sprayed fruit. 



BETTER CULTURE AND MORE TREES. 



The high price last year did much to encourage better culture, 

 and all over the State reports indicate that many neglected 

 orchards are being cared for. The trees are being pruned ; hogs 

 and sheep have been pastured to advantage among the trees ; trees 

 have been mulched; and other dressing applied, and in many 

 cases the orchards have been plowed and some effort made in 

 growing clover and other cover crops. The trees responding to 

 this treatment, have made a rapid growth during this season, and 

 at the present time make a most promising appearance. 



Many trees were set last spring and many more would have 

 been set had it been possible to obtain them. The immense 

 demand upon the nurseries for western and southwestern plant- 

 ing completely exhausted many of the most desirable varieties. 

 Perhaps this may have been some advantage in Maine, for many 

 gave special attention to working over the natural fruit trees and 

 those varieties that had proved to be unprofitable. 



THE SMALL FRUITS. 



The winter of 1901-2 was very unfavorable for strawberries, 

 and the plants were seriously injured and many killed outright. 

 The crop was in consequence a small one and of inferior quality, 

 but the price was rather more than usual. Of the bush fruits 

 the crop was better and the cool damp weather made the season 

 much longer than usual, the blackberries lasting as late as the 

 middle of September. It is a pleasure to note that the growing 

 of these delicacies has largely increased in the home gardens of 

 the State. Many such have enjoyed the satisfaction of having 

 all the small fruits the family could eat, and for the surplus have 

 found a cash demand. 



