40 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



DISCUSSION. 



IMi-. W. P. Atiieuton. I tliiiik that we ought to vcihe our own 

 trees. I believe that Maine is capable of raising all the trees she 

 wants. "What we want is young men who have a practical knowl- 

 edge of the business to take it in charge. There is a great difference 

 between western-grown trees and Maine trees and I should class the 

 former as soft and do not think it best to buy then:i. Last year, near 

 the spring, I wanted twenty-tive Baldwin trees and I went up to Mr. 

 Chase who couldn't let me have Iheni, so I sent to New York and 

 got them. When they came 1 undid the bundle and found the roots 

 bruised. The trees were set out and were taken U]) again in the 

 fall and tiie bark was found to be soft. The}' were of good height 

 but had started to bud and the roots were all mangled and cut up. 

 The}' had been planted and re-planted and re-planted and I knew it. 

 I set them out again and pruned the roots, tops and suckers. I 

 should not be disappointed if they all died, as many of them are 

 already dead. I have always had good luck in securing hardy stock 

 from western dealers previous to this, and have trees now in my 

 orchard that are read}' to break down in the fall they hang so full of 

 Rhode Island Greenings and Baldwins. Fiom one-half acre of New 

 York trees I have packed one hundred and twelve barrels of apples. 

 The trees were set seventeen years ago in rows twenty-four by twenty- 

 four feet apart. These trees are in a favorable location and receive 

 a good deal of wash and the soil is adapted to the variety. We do 

 ■wrong if we speak of everything out of the State as a humbug. I 

 do not want to class all as frauds. Many tree venders have no 

 practical knowledge of the business. We must look out for those 

 who are not honest. 



Hon. KuKus Prince. I am afraid you hear me too often, but in 

 order to have no time run to waste I will say a few words I do not 

 want my trees driven too hard. I want my trees fed well for I be- 

 lieve they are hardier and will make better orchard trees than where 

 they are forced. Forcing thera makes tlnm black hearted. I can't 

 see that Maine trees are any better than New York trees. I have 

 taken up trees after they have been allowed to grow and have found 

 no more black hearted ones among New York trees than among 

 Maine trees. High feeding in a nursery makes a good looking tree 

 but is then black hearted. If a tree is poor it shows itself soon. I 



