2J4. AGRIClLTL'Ri; OF MAINE. 



in order tliat the conclusions made will have a proper founda- 

 tion. For certain kinds of experimental work with perennial 

 plants, such as fruit trees, this long period for the accumula- 

 tion of data is a requisite. The results of a single season may 

 always be affected by natural factors beyond the control of 

 man; hence the real conclusions must be based, broadly speak- 

 ing, on the averages of the seasons. In this point orchard ex- 

 perimentation differs from work with an annual plant, where 

 the life of the latter ceases with its single harvest. It must 

 therefore be expected that tiie future publications of the Station 

 on orchard experiments will for some time consist, in most 

 cases, of seasonal reports of results and not the final conclu- 

 sions of the work. 



Aside from problems of the nature just described there is 

 the work of orchard renovation. This has an importance 

 wholly aside from its value as a piece of demonstration work. 

 The first step to be taken in the rejuvenation and development 

 of the Maine apple industry is the renovation of the existing 

 orchards ; naturally, the first point to be established is the 

 degree of neglect which an orchard can endure and still be 

 profitably restored and maintained for commercial ends. 



For determining this, as well as for more scientific ends, the 

 orchards at Highmoor Farm were well adapted when the Sta- 

 tion assumed control. 



CONDITION OF THE ORCHARDS IN I909. 



The varieties were Baldwin and Ben Davis with a scattering 

 of other standard sorts, planted 25x25 ft. apart. The orchards 

 had originally comprised about 5000 trees, but the persistent 

 neglect to which they had been subjected by former owners, 

 aided by natural enemies, had reduced the number to about 

 3200. These trees had stood in sod for an unknown time, — 

 some of them apparently from the day of planting. Insects 

 injurious to trees and fruits abounded, as did also various 

 forms of parasitic fungi. The trunks and limbs were encrusted 

 with lichens. Field mice by girdling or partially girdling the 

 trunks had wrought serious damage. In addition, several 

 severe fires had run througli the orchard grass in recent years. 



