82 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIE^TY. 



And the home, — what was it? A little remark was dropped 

 while we were there. While sitting at dinner, some one looked 

 up to Mrs. True and said: "Aren't you tired? Don't all of 

 these folks cause a good deal of work for you? " " Oh, no! I 

 have plenty of helpers." And as already stated, he has three 

 families there with him. You see he has brought his children 

 up to stay at home on the farm and make an ideal country home. 



And is this home an expense ? Is the fertilizer an output that 

 he puts into his orchard? No, he has fixed it so that they all 

 cooperate. His crops that he takes from them pay for his 

 fertilizers. His corn, beans, potatoes, — all his garden stuff is 

 there, — and his hay is in the valley. 



So these are the three principal points that I learned when I 

 went to the orchard meeting: That the hills of Maine can be 

 converted into profitable farms, and that the young man does 

 not retire when he takes up this work. 



Secondly, that the cultivation of the orchard can be so 

 arranged that it will not be an expense, the crops that he takes 

 from it yearly paying for the fertilizer. 



And thirdly, that there is an ideal home for a young man to 

 live in. 



RESULTS OF FERTILIZING AND CULTIVATING. 

 By V. P. DeCoster, Buckfield. 



The time has come when we have got to put brain work into 

 our fruit growing. When our farms were first cleared and we 

 commenced to work the soil it contained all the elements required 

 to produce good crops of fruit as well as other crops. Now we 

 find the conditions different, for so much has been taken from 

 the soil that trees and plants are hungering and thirsting for 

 what they cannot find, and it becomes necessary for us to supply 

 the missing plant food if we want to get the best results. We 

 learn what is needed by experimenting ourselves or by studying 

 the work and experimenting of others. Our Experiment Sta- 

 tion at Orono is doing much to help us and I believe we under- 

 estimate the grand work being accomplished there. Prof. 

 Munson who has charge of the horticultural work there is a 

 sincere worker and has great faith in the future of Maine fruit 

 growing. 



Under Professor Munson's directions fertilizing experiments 

 are being conducted in the orchard of Chas. S. Pope, Man- 



