122 STATE P0M0LOGICA.L SOCIETY. 



ORCIIAKOIXG IX .SOMERSET COUNTY. 

 By Fkank E. Xowkll. 



Has tlic Maine State Pomological Society given any force to fruit- 

 raising in our county? I tiiink it has, for in travelling over Somerset 

 County we see signs of marked improvement in fruit growing during 

 the last twelve 3ears, not only improving and caring for old orchards, 

 but also in the planting of young trees. You can see fine fruit in 

 the southern half of the county of both fall and winter varieties. 

 This is in part, I claim, due to the advanced markets, and in part to 

 influence of the Pomological Society, although there are not as many 

 members as there should be in the county, still I am glad to sav its 

 reports are read by the firesides of many of our orchardists, and the 

 future will show that its recommendations are silentlv workingr an 

 influence for good, it is a fact there is a decided improvement in 

 growing apples for profit in this count3\ Y"ou will find orchards set 

 out of our native stock where the tops have been properly grafted, 

 are yielding good, paying crops. One great trouble is, we see too 

 many varieties in small orchards, and generally' too much fall fruit, 

 for profit. Another misfortune is in having two and three varieties 

 on one tree. This should be avoided. A chief objection is, it makes 

 a great trouble and extra work at gathering time. 



I believe in Maine-grown trees for Maine orchards Y'ou can buy 

 trees to-da}' that are grown in native nurseries at less price than the 

 "Western trees can be bought for, and it is my idea they are far 

 superior for the cold hillsides of central and northern Maine. 

 Another thing. In buying Western trees of agents one is apt to get 

 duped sometimes. To illustrate : Four years ago one of my neighbors 

 bought seventy-five western trees from an agent. The varieties bought, 

 as he supposed, were Baldwin, Russet, Talman Sweet and Nod- 

 head. I helped him set them out in checks t went}'- four feet apart. 

 The}' looked first-rate and giew well, as they all lived. Of course 

 he was much pleased with his trees. Well, the next year ten of them 

 bore apples of the crab variety. The second 3ear more crabs ap- 

 peared and the third year they all bloomed with crabs. So much for 

 buying fruit trees of travelling men recommending stock from firms 

 we have never heard of. This, I grant, is an exceptional case, for 

 I have had some experience with western trees in the last twenty 



