72 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 



HORTICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES OF WORN-OUT 

 FARMS. 



Prof. W. M. MuNSoN, Orono. 



(Abstract.) 



Systematic efforts are being made in several of the New 

 England States to dispose of the "abandoned" or "worn-out" 

 farms, or to reclaim them. It seems particularly fitting that this 

 Society should use its influence in the latter direction, and 

 should encourage any work looking toward the reclaiming of 

 some of the holdings, which have for many years been neglected 

 and practically abandoned. The fact is well recognized, at 

 the present time, that these lands are not necessarily worn out, 

 but that their condition is due more to the ignorance or neglect 

 of their owners than to any inherent poor quality of the soil, or 

 any lack of natural fertility. 



There are many ways in which the neglected or non-paying 

 farms of New England may be made profitable to their owners. 

 One of the surest of these ways is by devoting the land to the 

 growing of apples, and it is to the possibilities in this direction 

 that the attention of the Maine Pomological Society is called 

 at this time. 



The younger generation can scarcely realize that fruit grow- 

 ing is still in its infancy in New England, and that in this 

 direction is the most hopeful outlook for the future of New 

 England agriculture. From the earliest settlements on the 

 Massachusetts coast till the present day, fruit has been grown 

 in New England. Peaches, plums, pears and apples galore have 

 been introduced from England, France, and Belgium. But 

 until about fifty years ago there was a very small amount of 

 the fruit we know today ; and that small amount was largely 

 produced in the gardens of a few enthusiastic lovers of fruit. 



Apples were then produced from natural seedlings, growing 

 without care and attention, and were of more importance for 

 cider than for any other purpose. Pears of delicious quality 

 were grown, but mostly on a small scale for home use or for 

 home markets. 



