STATE POMOLOQICAL SOCIETY. 45 



apples, so much so that they were wortlilcss. They were Rus- 

 sets, but the neighbors said a different fruit from the " golden" 

 Russets that grew on the outside. In fact they were the same, 

 but so small that anybody would be ashamed of them. On one 

 row where the sheep were in the habit of lying, I raised forty 

 bushels from nine trees, — as handsome apples as you ever saw, 

 while the inferior ones were not fit for market — on the same soil. 

 Now any one can see it was culture that made the difference. 

 The Russets in my orchard in this town, when I came here, were 

 so mean that I was ashamed of them. I sent them to Boston and 

 they passed for No. 2's. I have since raised from those trees as 

 good apples as ever I raised in Winthrop. High culture has done 

 it. Last fall, at our exhibition, I saw some handsome Boxbury 

 Russets from Waterville, and from Mr. Pulsifer's orchard in An- 

 droscoggin county, — as handsome specimens as we raise in Mon- 

 mouth. Right here, on a soil different from mine, Mr. George H. 

 Andrews raises them. You can see his fruit here, as handsome 

 as you ever saw for Russets. It is in the culture. Many soils 

 must be underdrained in order to produce good fruit, but we must 

 always feed in order to produce fruit. Without it the fruit is 

 mean. The Baldwin is a very slow grower. It will produce fruit 

 for awhile, but it will run down to a small amount without high 

 culture. 



The President. This discussion has finally brought up a very 

 important question, and one on which too much stress cannot be 

 laid ; that is, thorough cultivation for the production of fruit. There 

 is no more important question in connection with the subject of 

 fruit growing. There is no question on which fruit-growers need 

 more prompting, unless a fruit-buyer, like Mr. Carr, might say it 

 is the subject of deaconing. I am admonished, however, that we 

 cannot pursue it to any great extent at this time. If there shall 

 be an opportunity, it may be discussed further before the close of 

 the meeting. 



The President then announced that any questions arising in the 

 minds of persons present, on subjects connected with fruit grow- 

 ing, and which might be presented in writing, would be answered 

 or presented to the Society for consideration before the close of 

 the meeting on Wednesday ; after which, 



Adjourned. 



