418 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



The iiekl in which wc labor is a vast one, and we need never think 

 to sa}' "the work is done." But others will begin where we leave 

 off, and our failures ina3' aid them to success. Some one of them 

 that loves to originate new varieties through hybridization may even 

 produce " a successor to the Baldwin" and our best pear and grape. 



I regret that I cannot be present, and await 3'our report with 

 much interest. 



[From J. W. Lang, Brooks.] 



Rej)ort frovi Waldo County. 



In this vicinit}' the past year it has been a fairlv prosperous 

 season. The first of the season was wet and cool up to JUI3' 10th 

 or thereabouts. After that dr^' with but little rain-fall. Apple 

 trees blossomed with great fullness and a large crop set. On the 

 ai)proach of drouth, man\- fell off, and of the matured crop nearlj' 

 all were undersized. The crop, as a whole, was an average one. 

 Better varieties are more and more set, and grafted into older 

 orchards 3'ear after year, and we can see a stead}', though perhaps 

 slow growth in orcharding and fruit culture in Waldo count}'. The 

 first requisite in stimulation of any branch of business is faith in 

 that business. We are getting a better faith in fruit growing, in 

 our soils, in our location, and l)etter knowledge and better appre- 

 ciation is taking root in a health}- form. No varietj' of apple has 

 stronger hold or is growing in popularity more with us than that old 

 standard, the Baldwin. Home raised trees are set in larger propor- 

 tion than formerlv. Sales of trees from abroad are gi'owing beauti- 

 full}' less. No more crabs, please ! 



One evaporator, consuming thousands of bushels of best natural 

 and second qualit}' grafted apples, has been established, and has 

 operated two seasons, in Montville, turning out a superior product 

 and doing a paying business. There are man}- good locations for 

 other evaporators and creameries in our county, and we hope this 

 pioneer esta])lishment may very soon be many times duplicated. 

 Cider apples, of which large quantities are suffered to grow, do not 

 pay for picking and manufacture. Slowly these old cider orchards 

 are dying out, or are being regraftcd where practicable, and all the 

 younger trees are being pressed into bearing. 



AValdo county has many good orchardists scattered over its 

 extent, notable among whom are F. W. Ritchie of Winterport, A. 



