REPORT OF STATE HORTICULTURIST. 



To the Hon. J. P. Buckley, Commissioner of Agriculture, 

 Augusta, Me. 



I herewith submit my first amuial report as State Horti- 

 culturist for the season of 191 1. 



Owing to the fact that I was unable to take up my duties 

 until the 15th of May, the work of the department was ably 

 carried on under the direction of Mr. Yeaton. My report must 

 necessarily, then, be but a partial report, and is rendered as such. 



From the standpoint of the orchard it is safe to say that the 

 year has been particularly successful. The early and long con- 

 tinued drought which was so detrimental to some of the crops, 

 did no particular harm, especially in the orchards where culti- 

 vation was practised. 



The early drop was heavy but enough fruit was left on the 

 trees to insure a fair crop. It is estimated so far that the 

 product reached 1,000,000 barrels, a 150^ increase over last year. 

 The fruit was very highly colored and of good size and showed 

 to good advantage at the different fruit exhibitions. 



Lack of co-operation, except in a very few instances, resulted 

 in low prices in various localities and demonstrated more clearly 

 the need of work along this line. 



We organized the Oxford Bears Fruit Growers' Association, 

 the 26th of June, and their work has been very successful thus 

 far. This is the only association actually formed, though the 

 prospects for such work are very bright in a number of locali- 

 ties. 



More interest has been shown in box packing of apples and 

 the box is gaining favor amongst the growers of fancy fruit. 

 It is out of the question to pack inferior fruit in boxes, how- 

 ever, as the financial returns w'ill be no greater than from the 

 barrel unless very strict grading is practised. Wrapping should 



