74 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Trees have two functions — one of growth, the other of pro- 

 duction. The young nursery tree has a natural tendency toward 

 growth, and if buds are taken from these, the vegetative tend- 

 ency is transmitted to the seedhng stocks in the nursery, and 

 under the general management given to trees, orchards seldom 

 produce much fruit before from twelve to fifteen years. 



There are, however, varieties that will begin to bear sooner 

 than others, as the Duchess, and Wealthy. Where trees are 

 budded or grafted from the buds taken from mature bearing 

 trees that have come into bearing early and have been persistent 

 in bearing quality, there is a stronger tendency imparted to the 

 young trees to begin bearing at an earlier age. We have se- 

 lected buds from Rhode Island Greening trees of great bearing 

 quality and at three years from the time of budding two-year 

 nursery trees, have picked one-half bushel of fruit from them. 



During the present season, from Wealthy trees, six years 

 planted,two years old when planted, and budded on nursery 

 seedling stock with buds from special selected trees of great 

 bearing quality, we have netted $6o.CK) an acre for the fruit, 

 after paying for barrels, picking, packing, freight, and commis- 

 sion in selling. The Newtown is a variety that is long in com- 

 ing into bearing. We have an orchard budded with Newtown, 

 on two-year-old nursery trees, from buds selected from very 

 prolific trees, that are showing fine specimens of fruit, the third 

 year. We judged the fruit at the American Institute from the 

 trees from which the buds were taken, apples that took first 

 prize for three years in succession, and the specimens thus far 

 borne by these young trees show the same general character of 

 good size, uniform shape and fine finish of skin. 



That there is a large field for the improvement of the yield 

 of apples from the careful selection of propagating material 

 from strong ideal productive trees, there is no doubt. 



Yields of potatoes, corn, and wheat have been largely in- 

 creased through .this principle of selection, and there is no 

 reason why fruit trees may not be improved through the same 

 method. 



That certain diseases that attack some varieties of trees may 

 be overcome by selection of both stock and scion, is quite con- 

 clusively demonstrated through more than twenty years of 

 work along this line. 



