STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 123 



years, and am willing to admit I have some good trees of the hardy 

 varieties, such as Xorthera Spy, Talmau Sweet, Rhode Island Green- 

 ing and Yellow Bellflower ; but at the same time I have set native 

 trees in the place of the lost westerners and top-grafted them, and 

 to-day they are bearing more apples than the western trees in the 

 same row. So I will repeat again, I believe in Maine stock from 

 Maine orchards. 



The shipment of apples to Europe is quite a business, and evi- 

 dently a growing one. That the foreign demand for shipping varie- 

 ties of Maine apples has increased at a rapid rate in the past few 

 years we can all testify. Whj' is it so? In my view it is because of 

 their fine flavor and good keeping qualities, if carefully picked and 

 packed. . Some have said apples should be handled like eggs ; I don't 

 think they are quite so tender, still, the}' need very careful handling 

 to put them in the market in good shape, so as to receive the high 

 prices we all like to obtain for our fruit. 



Somerset Count}' so far has been noted more for its sheep and fine 

 wool than for fruit. Still, it has taken some part in our annual State 

 shows in the past, -and I think it could have done better, had the 

 orchardists fully understood the pomological merits ; but we hope 

 as the years roll by to see a greater advancement in fruit culture — 

 for our old sheep pastures on the rocky hillsides make fine places to 

 set our native trees and gi^ft them to Baldwins. And just here let 

 me say a word as to the importance of setting out orchards at once. 

 Do not wait until everything else is done, and for the convenient time 

 as 3'ou think, for on a farm there is alwa3's something to be done. One 

 •of my townsmen, over twenty' 3'ears ago, thought when he had a leisure 

 time he would set out an orchard, but that time never came and the 

 •consequence is, he only raises a few apples from some old trees that 

 were on the farm when he took possession of it. I know from ex- 

 perience it takes both care and time to look after trees and keep them 

 in order ; but it pay« every way to do so. And my advice is, take 

 the time now and set out trees. They will grow while you are doing 

 your other work, and in* shoi't time you will feel well repaid for your 

 time and trouble by the fine returns which the trees will make. 



Now, in regard to the different kinds of fruit, I will give you a list 

 •of nine varieties for home use, lasting the entire 3'ear : Red Astra- 

 •chan, High-Top Sweet, Winthrop Greening, Nodhead, Tompkins' 

 King, Talman Sweet, Baldwin and Northern Spy. I find these give 

 :good satisfaction in my section. Of course people have different 



