FRUIT CULTURE. 37 



whether wheat can be raised in Maine with profit compared with 

 the great wheat growing States ; but whether, compared with 

 other grain crops, it can "be profitably raised in Maine." Let 

 these figures answer. 



What is required is more acres. Only 16,000 acres are devoted 

 to this crop in Maine. Governor Chamberlain's experiment 

 involves many multiples of these figures. Can they be reached ? 

 " The experiment is worthy of being tried." Will our "70,000 

 farmers " make the trial ? Will they test the capabilities of the 

 State to produce its own bread ? This is the question now to be 

 answered. Let it be answered wisely. 



If with our present careless and exhaustive methods of culture 

 we now produce twelve bushels to the acre, may we not double or 

 ti'eble the number of bushels, by adopting a more thorough and 

 scientific syst^ — by applying a little more brain-work to our 

 operations, instead of relying on " main force " and muscle alone. 

 Brain-work, time and experience, will teach us a more excellent 

 way — that as a prerequisite to good crops, we must not only 

 supply the fertilizers freely, but adopt a judicious rotation of 

 crops, clean culture, thoroughly pulverize the soil and seed 

 liberally ; in short, follow the precept of the Governor's Address : 

 " The intelligent farmer knows that he must sow on dry ground or 

 underdrain, so as to get the seed in early and avoid the midge ; 

 that he must pulverize clayey soils so that they will absorb and 

 hold the nitrogen or ammonia upon which the cereals depend ; and 

 that the wheat should be followed by crops like clover, turnips or 

 peas, which do not dissipate ammonia, and those crops be kept 

 upon the farm and returned to the soil as dressing. 



In the light of the experience of the past three or four years, 

 and the hopeful prospects for the future, your Committee unite in 

 recommending to the farmers of Maine an increased culture of 

 wheat. Let them devote at least a portion of their cultivated 

 acres to this important crop. 



Albert Mooee, ) 



Peter W. Ayer, >- Committee. 



J. V. Putnam, ) 



Mr. Norton presented the following paper on 



The Culture op Fruit. 



Fruit culture should be a leading interest in Maine. With land 

 so well adapted to the production of the apple and other fruits. 



