Io8 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Maine where cultivation is either impossible or obviously im- 

 practicable. In my opinion such sites should not have been 

 selected for the planting of trees. Since they are there, the 

 next best thing is to conserve the soil moisture, preferably by 

 mulching. Do not let grass grow. You cannot grow hay and 

 apples on the same acre with profit to both crops. 



On the other hand, be it understood that unintelligent tillage 

 leads to harm. Excessive cultivation drys out the soil and ex- 

 hausts the humus. It should not be carried on later than the 

 end of July. Then a cover crop of some sort such as rye or 

 vetch should be sown, to grow and remain until spring, wdien 

 it is to be plowed under as soon as the ground can be worked. 

 Thus the soil is supplied with the necessary organic matter 

 which is transformed into humus and in time aids in the nutri- 

 tion of the tree. Tillage without the regular addition of organic 

 matter results in harm. For this reason cultivation and cover- 

 cropping must be complementary. Aside from their value as 

 sources of organic food supply, cover crops have many valu- 

 able physical properties, which cannot be discussed in the time 

 allotted me. 



In conclusion let me emphasize one point. It may be that 

 there exists in the mind of some the conviction that we have 

 heard expressed as follows : "Of course you can do those 

 things — you have the State behind you." Now, as a matter of 

 fact we have had not one penny of state aid since the farm 

 was purchased. What we have done and are doing on a fairly 

 large scale in the way of bringing a decrepit lot of trees into 

 profitable bearing is what every owner of a neglected orchard 

 can do for himself on his scale. What is required far more 

 than great capital is the ability of each man to recognize his 

 own conditions, to attack his special problem with judgment, 

 undertaking only what he can succes fully finish each season ; 

 and above all to be open to new ideas and to the newer agricul- 

 tural knowledge. There are still too many men owning fruit 

 trees in the New England States who are more devout ancestor 

 worshippers than the Chinese. They travel blindly in the rut of 

 family tradition and family practices. They pride themselves 

 on being "practical farmers ;" which would incline one to believe 

 that Lord Beaconfield had that class in mind when he defined 



