40 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



In tuost of our old orchards the natural fertility of the soil is 

 somewhat exhausted. Diseases have multiplied and insects have 

 increased wonderfully. The situation has changed, and he who 

 would reap much of a harvest must be able to meet all these new 

 conditions. More attention must be given to fertilizing the orchard, 

 and with the aid of the scientist, we shall be able to combat both 

 insects and di'^eases. 



What is the lesson for fruit growers in the bountiful crop and low 

 prices of the past year? We find many discouraged ones who will 

 neglect the orchard and fruit garden, until a year ot better prices, to 

 find then the trees and vines weak and dying for want of proper 

 care. With seasons of such low prices the people will learn to con- 

 sume more fruit, and thus it will become a necessity to such, and 

 will help to keep up the price in future years. The cost of raising 

 and marketing fruit must be reduced to a minimum. First by better 

 care and fertilizing, to raise more and better fruit ; by the use of 

 arsenical poisons to destroy the insects and some fungicide to hold 

 diseases in check and more care in the selection of varieties which 

 will find a ready market. 



In many cases the thinning of apples will pay a large profit, as a 

 tree overloaded will bear fruit too small for market, and also injure 

 the tree, both by exhausting its vitality and breaking its branches. 



Thinning fruit has been practiced for many years in our pear 

 orchards, and we think will give the best of results to those who 

 wish to raise choice apples that will bring fancy prices. 



After reading the reports of the sales of Maine apples in Liver- 

 pool this season I am most thoroughly convinced that some plan 

 should be devised to keep u[) the reputation of our apples abroad. 

 I am aware that Maine fruit was, on the whole, very poor this 3'ear. 

 The fall was quite warm and the winter fruit matured rapidly and 

 was not as firm as usual, so that after remaining a week or more 

 on the warm steamer, much of it arrived in very poor condition and 

 the shipper realized little, if anything, for his apples. I saw many 

 apples packed this winter and do not wonder that a large part of the 

 sales were reported "slack" and "wet." 



Is it good policy for the orchardists to sell his apples to the shippers 

 and have everything sent abroad to glut the market? One-half the 

 apples packed for No. 2 on many farms the past winter were only 

 fit for the stock or to be ground for cider. Many of these were sold 

 for less than the cost of the barrel, added to the freight charges and 



