STATC POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 39 



varieties, that on producing (if ever) doom you to disappointment 

 after years of toil and favorable expectation. 



I think and believe that on the cold line of apple growing the short- 

 jointed, stabbed growth endures the cold better than the long-jointed, 

 spi-eading varieties. I also think that in jiroducing seedlings, those to 

 plant from good natural seed raised in their vicinity would be the best 

 way to promote hardihood ; that they would be more likely to meet 

 with success than in any other wa^'. The best way to procure pear 

 seedlings is from the native pear seed, then graft with Flemish Beaut}', 

 then double work up with other varieties as may suit you. I mean 

 in Maine and other like climates. 



In referring again to the short-jointed growth on the cold line I will 

 explain now what I then omitted to do. The short growth spoken of 

 ripens up quicker than the opposite, and that is one of the main points 

 as to wintering free from winter killing. AH woods that ripen late 

 are more likely to have a hard winter of it, especially in the North. 



With me the insect problem is one that still needs stud}-. The 

 borer I consider is the worst of all pests that infest the apple orchard 

 and I know of but one sure way to stop it, which is to prevent the 

 beetle from depositing the egg. This can be done b}- wrapping the 

 trunk with cedar or an}^ other kind of bark and inserting the bottom 

 of the bark into the ground half an inch or more. This pest is, I 

 think, on the increase, and great care should be taken to prevent its 

 ravages. Borers have infested orchards the past season wdiere they 

 have never been seen before. Hundreds of apple trees are dying 

 from the effects of the borer. It will pay well to fence orchards of 

 one acre or even more for a poultr}' run. With me the past season 

 the codlin moth has not troubled my trees. Sheep and hogs kill a 

 great manv if allowed to pick up windfalls, which the}' should. The 

 apple maggot bids fair to cause great trouble. I have had none as 

 ^•et, but I know of orchards within four miles that have been nearly 

 destroj'ed by them — in fact, some varieties entirely so, the Fameuse 

 and Gravenstein so much so that the apples were not harvested. I do 

 not know what can or will be done, but something should be done by 

 our Legislature in tliis direction, for I believe that they are destined 

 to ruin our crops of apples. Wherever the}'^ go they destroy, and all 

 fruit touched by them is utterly worthless. I hope at this meeting 

 you will discuss this dreaded pest and try and provide for its future 

 studv and destruction. 



