REPORT OF STATE HORTICULTURIST. 55 



Some of the growers that have had Httle experience in buying 

 stock have been held up for exorbitant prices ; others have paid 

 IOC per tree and obtained stunted stock, as might be expected. 



I beheve thoroughly in the one-year-old seedling, and have 

 urged its use in this State. I find that where the one-year-old 

 and two-year-old seedlings are given a fair trial the dilTerence 

 in size and yield at the end of ten years is not noticeable and 

 that the one-year-old has developed into the strongest and thrif- 

 tiest tree in a majority of cases. The one-year-old costs less, its 

 system does not receive the same shock in transplanting and it 

 can be pruned to the grower's own satisfaction, with little chance 

 for weak crotches later on when the trees are loaded with fruit. 



IVIany growers are constantly inquiring why there isn't a good 

 nursery in this state. At present there are two nurseries that 

 are growing apple stock in greater or less quantity. Mitchell 

 & Co. of Waterville have about 50,000 one-year-old seedlings 

 and 40,000 budded this fall. On inspecting the one-year seed- 

 lings we did not find them black-hearted as might have been 

 expected from the experience of former trials by other nursery- 

 men. The Hancock Nursery Company have about 2000 apple 

 seedlings also free from black-hearts when inspected. Both 

 companies have many of the standard varieties and as far as 

 can be determined, are reliable. 



RENOVATION OR REMOVAL? 



There is no question but that we have too many blocks of old 

 trees existing in different parts of the State. Some of them still 

 produce fruit and are fairly vigorous, others are diseased and if 

 fruit is produced, it is simply food for insects or a harboring 

 place for disease. 



In going through an orchard of this kind, the question is 

 always asked, "Would you advise dehorning or removal?" and 

 it is a question that is hard to answer in many cases. 



Where the trees are vigorous and not too old, say 50 years, 

 they can be dehorned to advantage in many cases, and after a 

 new top is formed nearer the ground, be made very profitable. 

 Such trees have usually been trimmed as if they were shade 

 trees and the top is 25-30 feet from the ground. This renders 

 production expensive and spraying almost prohibitive. By 



