380 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE). 



MAINE APPLE DISEASES. 



Introduction. 



While Maine is well to the north of the apple-growing sec- 

 tion of the United States, there is no settled part of the State 

 where at least some varieties of eating apples cannot be grown 

 successfully. Even in northern Aroostook in the latitude of 

 Quebec certain of the Russian varieties, and some of the more 

 hardy apples of American origin, are grown to perfection and 

 are of a quality unexcelled. Moreover these varieties are per- 

 fectly hardy there, sometimes withstanding temperatures of 

 — 40 degrees F. and below. During the winter of 1906-7, when 

 southern Maine and certain other parts of New England and 

 adjacent portions of Canada suffered great loss from winter 

 killing of apple trees, practically no damage was observed in 

 Aroostook County. 



Fortunately or unfortunately, as it might be regarded from 

 one point of view, climatic and soil conditions are such in Maine 

 that a fair crop of good apples can be produced usually with a 

 minimum of care and attention. In too many instances in years 

 gone by the owner has not felt the necessity of giving his 

 orchard any attention after setting the trees other than to har- 

 vest the grass which grows therein and to pick an occasional 

 crop of apples which may be produced ; cultivation, if any, being 

 secondary as a result of growing some annual crop in the rows 

 between the trees. The fact that a considerable number of trees 

 would survive this treatment, producing fair returns for the 

 Icibor involved, has in the past materially helped to delay the 

 general adoption of more approved systems of orchard manage- 

 ment. 



Competition with apples produced farther west, which com- 

 mand a higher price simply on account of more attractive 

 appearance and packing, has resulted in rapidly increased atten- 

 tion to and adoption of better methods of orchard management. 

 In every case where these improved methods have been intro- 

 duced, the results have far exceeded expectations. At the same 

 time there has been within the last few years a combined and 

 united effort among the various agencies in the State which are 



