414 STATE POMOLOaiCAL SOCIETY. 



rock}- land for another orchard, I would run my dead furrows on 

 the line where I would set the trees, dig down still deeper so as to 

 make an underdrain, and then throw in all the small stone I could 

 gather from the land, making a blind drain, fill it up with earth and 

 plant the trees over the drain. If properl}' managed, the labor 

 would not be great, while good drainage, and a healthier tree would 

 be grown, drought would not affect them, the roots would extend 

 much farther, and a larger tree with a more rapid growth would be 

 secured, and, lastly', an abundance of fruit. 



With reference to the borer, I have failed in every experiment 

 except that of a sharp knife and wire. Trees should be examined 

 every month during the season, and the borers dislodged as early as 

 possible after the eggs have been deposited. 



[From D. J. Briggs, South Turner.] 



The fruit crop in this vicinit}* is not as large as in some former 

 years. The high winds in early fall blew off one-quarter, and in 

 some unsheltered localities, oiie-half of the entire crop, which were 

 not matured, and of course sold at a reduced price. Those that did 

 not blow off made a good growth and were colored ver\- nicely but 

 somewhat wormy. Apples are selling for a good price at the 

 present time. Pears were scarce and sold well in the fall. 



In this locality the scions that were set in 1881 made a very good 

 growth ; but from some cause, in the spring of 1882, more than 

 one-half of them did not start. Some say they were winter killed, 

 t>ut my judgment is that in making so large a growth in September 

 the same year they were set, and then being exposed to the severe 

 •cold of October 5th of the same year, (so cold that it froze apples 

 ■on the trees,) I think the scions were frozen so as to stop the circu- 

 lation of the sap. 



Fruit production in a large portion of Maine is bringing a large 

 income to the producers, and it would be well to have more legisla- 

 tive action on so very important a branch of farming ; say give the 

 Society that represents this industry $1,000 a 3'ear, so as to encour- 

 age our farmers to enter into it with more zeal. 



Would it not be well for the Society to hold more meetings, in 

 different parts of the State, perhaps one in June and another in 

 August, when the pomologist is in his glory ? I think the Society 



