64 STATE rOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



this subject is one of the most vital questions if we are going to 

 undertake the care of the orchards and make them profitable in 

 the largest degree. 



The figures of Prof. Gardner this morning suggest, it seems 

 to me. from the financial standpoint, what may be possible. 

 What are those trees worth to a man, allowing forty trees to an 

 acre? Why, upon the cultivated section those trees are paying 

 him net about $2.10 or four per cent upon a valuation of $50 a 

 tree. \Miat does that mean? It means $2,000 an acre. Are 

 we putting the right estimate upon our trees? Are we valuing 

 them enough ? It seems to me the higher value we put upon 

 them the more likely we will be to appreciate their wants and 

 meet the requirements of the situation as it confronts us today. 



I don't believe that there is any successful future for a man 

 in orcharding unless he has a love for the orchard. I question 

 whether you can force trees today, — whether there is not needed 

 that invitation which comes out of partnership. And for that 

 reason this commercial work which is being attempted too often 

 is a positive injury. It ha? been with us. It will be again. 

 Let me cite a case. Among the many letters coming to my desk 

 from men all over the country asking about farms in Maine (I 

 have had two or three since I came here yesterday) or orchards 

 in Maine, was one from a gentleman in New York who wanted 

 to know about what varieties are best adapted to setting a 

 large orchard, and I named two or three as adapted to that 

 locality, being somewhat familiar with it, and considerable cor- 

 respondence ensued, until finally he wrote and said : "I want to 

 ask you one more question." I had given 40 feet to a tree as 

 the minimum space, unless he wanted to use a filler. And then 

 came this question : "If we should set 100 trees to the acre, 

 wouldn't that orchard be worth $400 an acre in four years ^" I 

 replied : "You go on and set 100 trees to an acre and in four 

 years your orchard will be worth four dollars an acre." I was 

 dropped then as not good authority in orcharding. Just think 

 of the business method which is involved in any such >vork. 

 Isn't there any necessity for protecting our orchards? Isn't 

 there any value in standing to protect the industry? Because 

 you and I know it is only necessary that we make these hills 

 all over the State of Maine, through the fruit belt, bright with 

 apple blossoms, — that we cover these hills wMth the varieties 



