52 STATE POMOLOQICAL SOCIETY. 



other enemies ; and to be successful, he needs all the practical 

 knowledge possible, and he can attain it onl}' through habits of 

 observation. It is easier to acquire habits of carelessness, habits of 

 running by and overlooking facts without any investigation. Per- 

 haps too few of us reall}^ have fixed habits of observation. Such a 

 habit is worth our time, and it seems to me that fruit growing 

 affords better facilities for acquiring it than any other pursuit. If 

 we spend much of our time in the orchard, we can not help being 

 observant of the changes taking place day by da3' and year bv j'ear. 

 The insect enemies — and their name is legion, — have to be watched 

 and their raA'ages guarded against. Each new enem^' as it comes, 

 has some new way of doing its work, and must be watched, its 

 habits noted, and means devised to prevent its ravages. 



The fruit grower has friends, also, as well as enemies, among the 

 insects and the feathered tribes, and it needs the closest observation 

 sometimes, to judge between friend and foe. There are also many 

 mysteries connected with the diseases of fruit trees, which intelligent, 

 close and long-continued observation alone can solve. 



The climate and soil of a large part of our State afforc^ unequalled 

 facilities for the cultivation of fruit, to make it a source of income 

 unequalled b}' any other industrial pursuit on the farm. 



FRUIT GKOWIXG IX PISCATAQUIS COUNTY. 

 By H. L. Leland, of Saugeiville. 



The present and future outlook of fruit growing in Piscataquis 

 county is as a whole encouraging. Our upland soils are well 

 adapted to orcharding, and the climatic conditions do not essentialh' 

 differ from those in counties south of us. 



The greatest obstacles to progress in gi'owing fi'uit come through 

 the lack of interest and want of intelligent and systematic effort on 

 the part of our farmers. In the past there has been no call for 

 apples outside of our local demands, hence tl^ere has l)een no induce- 

 ment to encourage increased culture. AVithin a few years there has 

 been a demand for good apples for shipment. Tliis demand is 

 awakening increased interest and will lead to more study, intelli- 

 gence and care in the selection of trees and varieties. In the early 

 settlements of the county, beginning in 1805, and down to 1830, 

 nearly every farmer planted out orchards, many of them of large 



