STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 55 



this is where most of the trouble lay. The hay crop will draw 

 out all the available moisture, and what does the poor tree do? 

 It does without. Thus the tree, being reduced to such a low state 

 of vitality, has great difficulty in surviving our winters. The 

 chances are it has not been pruned and the caterpillars are allow- 

 ed to live and prosper, thereby depriving the tree of breathing 

 power. If the tree shows a profusion of blossoms the shiftless 

 fruit grower will likely have great expectations, but disappoint- 

 ment is more likely to result. The codHng moth and railroad 

 \\orm have full sway, and the fruit not being worth gathering 

 is left on the ground to propagate more disease. We need not 

 follow the history of the tree struggling for existence, and results 

 in this kind of orcharding are easily predicted. 



What is the cause of this neglect ? I say it is lack of love and 

 sympathy with the tree. Our blessed Lord inferred in his teach- 

 ings that if we love him we will serve him. Cannot this rule be 

 applied practically along horticultural lines ? I have the greatest 

 respect for any tree, but more particularly for a fruit tree, 

 especially when fragrant with blossoms. That is heavenly. 

 Who does not admire a heavily laden tree of beautiful fruit? i 

 feel like taking ofif my hat and saying. May your shadow never 

 grow less. 



To succeed in any line of business we must like it, and so it is 

 with orcharding. I must say that I am not in sympathy with the 

 system of orcharding where everything is taken and nothing re- 

 turned. It does not appeal to an up-to-date consistent orchard- 

 ist. Furthermore, what is more practically and substantially 

 beautiful than a seventy-five or one hundred acre commercial 

 orchard! How many are there in Maine? Lastly, let me add, 

 there is no better legacy to leave than a thrifty orchard of well 

 selected varieties. Your children, while enjoying the kindly 

 fruits of the earth grown on the beautiful hillsides of Maine, 

 will surely rise up and call you blessed. 



