STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 115 



FRUITS IN AROOSTOOK COUNTY. 

 By E. W. Merritt. 



As I attempt to write on fruit culture in Aroostook County I feel 

 my incompetency, although one might suppose that nine years ought 

 to acquaint me with the facts ; but please bear in mind, the count3Ms 

 large, the soil varies greath^ and conditions which are favorable in 

 one localit}' are detrimental in another ; also different treatment is 

 required on these diverse soils and localities, and while we mav start 

 at the southern boundary of the county (which is sevent3--five miles 

 north of the fruit-growing belt) with a list of thirty-five varieties of 

 apples, it rapidly diminishes as we proceed north. In order that 3'ou 

 may better understand this, I will say that the catalogues of Massa- 

 chusetts embrace some three hundred and fift}' varieties of the choicest 

 apples, which is onh' a small part of all grown, our friend Bennoch at 

 Orono has one hundred and fortv, while at Houlton not more than 

 twent}' can be successfulh' raised, and the list will run down to four 

 or five kinds at Fort Fairfield and Caribou. There mav be an occa- 

 sional place in this count}' where the number may be slightly increased. 



SOILS. 



In this county there are (according to Colby's Atlas) one hundred 

 and sevent3'-five sections of about six miles square. Fift}' of these 

 are settled, twent3'-five more partiall3' settled, and the remaining one 

 hundred have but few, if any, settlers. The principal settlements 

 are on the east side of the county and embrace a comparatively nar- 

 row strip running north and south for a distance of one hundred and 

 twelve miles, Houlton being thirty-four miles north of the south line. 

 B3' this you will see I am able to speak of onl3' this small portion of 

 our count3'. This area is cut still smaller by the fact that low, frosty 

 ground, also land where there is a loose subsoil and intervals, are not 

 adapted to orcharding. Yet, in spite of this, a large portion of the 

 southern part of the county is as good orchard ground as an3' part 

 of the State (aside from the fact that we arc restricted to a few of 

 the choicest varieties). 



In most of the cla3' and slate, and all of the granite soils, apple 

 trees will flourish and become a profitable orchard with the proper 

 care and protection. Orcharding is yet in its infancy, although a great 



