34 STATE POMOLOGICAI, SOCIETY. 



How has this orchard been brought to such a high degree of 

 productiveness? There are several methods being employed at 

 the present time. 



The orchard had been divided in many plots or sections for 

 as many different experiments. The following appealed to me 

 as being the most practical for my own use : 



The trees in the plot where the hogs worked last season were 

 thrifty and full of fruit, whereas a year ago they appeared the 

 same as the trees in the plot where the hogs are at work this 

 year, the foliage less abundant, lighter in color and not as many 

 apples. 



In another plot the trees were mulched with commercial ferti- 

 lizers in one section and with stable manure in another. The 

 section mulched with stable manure seemed to me to give the 

 better results. By the side of these were trees without any treat- 

 ment, and this fact was plainly evident. 



Another plot was divided into three sections. One section 

 was cultivated with plow and harrow and no fertilizers were 

 used. Another section received the same cultivation, and com- 

 mercial fertilizers were used. And then the third section had 

 the same cultivation and stable manures were used. And here I 

 gave the stable manure the preference. These results proved 

 that much stress should be laid upon the use of the plow and 

 harrow. There were many other plots of equal interest, but 

 these seemed the most practical to me. The trees were all well 

 pruned. 



Another little point I learned was in grafting that we must 

 not get a bud on the scions too near the bark on the trunk, as 

 the branch from this bud will split off quickly. 



These are a few of the lessons I learned at the orchard meet- 

 ing, but the greatest lesson was this : The closer I keep in touch 

 with the men and societies carrying on such experiments the 

 higher I can raise the standard of our own orchard, thereby 

 contributing more to the wealth of my own town and lift the 

 ]\laine apple still higher beyond the reach of all competitors. 



