134 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



What are the reasons for this? They are many. That it is 

 not due to cHmate conditions is demonstrated by the fact that 

 majiy of the best orchards are widely scattered, or to soil by 

 the fact that orchards in the same neighborhood imder similar 

 soil conditions vary greatly. 



It would appear then that the variations are due, first, to 

 poor stock, and second, to lack of care. As the majority of the 

 original stock averaged over forty cents per tree, the cause of 

 this variation would seem to be elsewhere. 



Lack of proper care is the important fault with these or- 

 chards. 



1. Lack of time. 



2. Nonappreciation of the advantage of proper pruning, 

 spraying and growth. 



Unfortunately for our fnu't industr}^, the majority of our 

 growers relegate the orchard to the background and allow it 

 to play second fiddle to the other crops on the fann. The ex- 

 pression, 'T didn't have time as other work interfered," is so 

 common that it has become monotonous. 



If we are to put our orchards to the front where they right- 

 fully belong, we can't allow otlier work to interfere. The trees 

 must be of paramount importance if we are to successfully 

 compete with the growers of other sections. 



PRUNING. 



A sturdy tree that is capable of supporting fruit is the tree 

 we desire in the orchard and to get this tree we must prune the 

 young tree carefully and systematically. A certain amount of 

 heading must be carried on both at the time of planting and 

 later, removng branches that are not desirable and prevent a well 

 balanced top. 



We need a tree here that has at least a moderately open top, 

 as the short season and lack of sunshine tend to produce 

 poorly colored fruit. The impression that a low head interferes 

 with cultivation, weakens the tree by starting it high and having 

 the branches come out too near together. 



Many varieties, unless headed back, produce long, weak 

 branches with little bearing surface, which are not desirable. 



