98 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



GREGORY ORCHARDS, 



This year we attempted to visit all of the Gregory orchards, 

 but were unable to do so because of the short season available 

 for this work. A score card was made out, allowing points for 

 pruning, spraying, size of trees, general appearance, etc., and 

 each orchard visited was scored according to this card. A 

 larger part of these orchards scored over 800 points on the basis 

 of 1,000, and those that did not are practically eliminated from 

 the contest, in that they could not in a single season gain suffi- 

 ciently to overcome the lead of the others. This may be of 

 some importance to the judges if they wish to take our figures, 

 and will save time and money in visiting these orchards. The 

 highest scoring orchards were in the vicinity of 960 points, usu- 

 ally Stark or Mcintosh, and well scattered throughout the belt 

 of the contest. The orchards are to be scored in the summer of 

 1914 and the prizes awarded in the fall. The second contest 

 will begin in the spring of 191 5 and it is of the greatest impor- 

 tance to those who are planning to enter that they have their 

 land in proper condition. Cropping in 1914 will undoubtedly 

 help in the early growth of the young trees. Orders to the nur- 

 serymen should be forwarded in season to secure good stock 

 and it might be well to state that the trees are to go into com- 

 petition and that it will be good business for the nurseryman 

 who furniishes the winners. 



The competition between the first thirty orchards of the 

 present contest promises to be very keen and there will probably 

 be more or less disappointment when the prizes are awarded. 

 It is hoped, however, that such contestants will show the right 

 spirit and not criticise the work of the judges too harshly, but 

 will enter the next contest with greater enthusiasm and a re- 

 solve to do better work. Those whose orchards have been mora 

 or less unsuccessful should not be discouraged for in most 

 cases their troubles were such as could be remedied by a more 

 thorough understanding of orchard culture. From the hun- 

 dred reports received some tabulations have been made show- 

 ing the methods employed and the costs of operation. These 

 are given in detail as follows: 



