138 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



A SENSIBLE LAW. 

 The following law appears in the statute books of the State of 

 Michigan : "Every overseer shall cause the noxious weeds within 

 the limits of the highways within his district to be cut down and 

 destroyed twice each year, once before the first day of July, and 

 again before the first day of September, and the requisite labor 

 shall be considered highway work ; and once in every month, from 

 the first day of April to the first day of December, shall cause all 

 the loose stones lying in the beaten track of every road within his 

 district to be removed. An}' overseer who shall refuse or neglect to 

 perform the duties required by this section shall be liable to a pen- 

 alty of twentj^-five dollars." 



WHAT APPLES TO PPtOPAGATE. 



Maine is a large State in territory', and contains so many kinds of 

 soil, and has so great a variation in temperature, it would be folly 

 to lay down any definite rules in relation to the best varieties of 

 apples to propagate throughout the State. The only way I know 

 to settle the question of what varieties will pay best, is to experi- 

 ment with the leading varieties, and propxgate those that succeed 

 best. I will briefly consider the merits and demerits, of a few of 

 the leading varieties of late keeping apples that are now raised with 

 more or less success in a large portion of Maine, for it is the late 

 keeping varieties and those only that can be profitablj' grown in a 

 large portion of our State. 



Orchardists may differ from me as to the most profitable varieties 

 to raise, and the kinds of soil best adapted to the different varieties. 

 No doubt many will, but I have arrived at my conclusions from 

 practical experience and close observation in this particular section 

 of the State. 



The Wealthy is said to ba gaining favor in the markets, but it is 

 a variety I am not acquainted with, and can say nothing in favor 

 of, or against its propagation. The Faraeuse is a good bearer, 

 though a little under size. It sells well in the late fall and earl}' 

 winter, frequently higher than the Baldwin, but after the middle 

 of January is taken with much caution by apple dealers on account 

 of its habit of rotting by specking under the skin while it still looks 

 all rijiht on the surface. The Billflower is a beautiful bearer in 



