lb. AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



while there was not snow during the winter and low tempera- 

 ture prevailed frequently, the trees came out in the spring in 

 good condition, the buds strong and able to give a full bloom, 

 and set a large crop of fruit. 



TILLACE AND CROPS. 



In most sections where peach orchards were given good 

 summer culture in igio. and the cultivation was kept up late, 

 there were excellent and full crops of fruit the past season, but 

 where cultivation of the soil was neglected the crop was a 

 failure. 



The season of 191 1 will long be remembered for its unusual 

 deficiency of rainfall. Many farmers had to draw water long 

 distances for their stock during the winter months, while the 

 hay crop was heavily reduced by the prolonged drought of the 

 spring and summer. 



One of the most valuable lessons that farmers and fruit 

 growers should have learned from the year 1911 is that of 

 the importance of the tillage of the soil. 



At "Orchard Farm" with the exception of a few local show- 

 ers that moistened the surface of the soil a few times, during 

 seven months there was not sufficient rainfall to affect springs 

 or streams ; yet. we have never produced a larger crop of 

 apples, or of better quality, and particularly of better size. 



This sample of Rome Beauty apple (exhibited) was taken 

 from a tree that produced one and one-half barrels of apples 

 the seventh year from planting, the tree being a medium size of 

 two years when planted. There were many Alclntosh trees 

 that produced the same quantity at the same age. 



This orchard with others was given early and continued 

 cultivation up to the middle of July. The indications seemed 

 to be those of a continued dry period, and cultivation was then 

 to be relied upon to conserve such moisture as was in the soil 

 to keep up the growth of the trees and the maturing of a fall 

 crop of fruit. 



CLOVER AND BUCKWHEAT COVER CROPS. 



For nearly twenty years it has been our practice to sow 

 clover for a cover and green crop to be plowed in annually, but 

 for two years the summers have been so dry at the time of 



