STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 81 



working it thoroughly into the soil. If, however, there are fertilizing 

 elements that are particularly called for in fruit culture they may be 

 found in bone meal and wood ashes. When these are properly ap- 

 plied to most soil we doubt if very much more is needed to insure all 

 the nature of the plant, tree or shrub may call for. But cultivate 

 thoroughly if the best results are desired. 



Third. It takes a long while for us to learu from our own experi- 

 ence that we can not accept as authority in fruit matters in Maine 

 writers and fruit growers whose experiences are wholly in other States. 

 It is therefore important, in fact, essential to fruit growing in any part 

 of jNIaine that we have the best varieties, not perhaps the most talked 

 of, but those that are hardy enough to endure our climate and early 

 enough to be out of the way of frosts in the fall. One of the most 

 profitable gnipes for New York State is the Concord. I had two fine 

 vines but I cut them both to the ground last fall, and in future will 

 have no vines that do not mature tlieir fruit earlier than the Concord. 

 A glowing account of the excellent qualities of the Early Harvest 

 blackberry induced me to try a few bushes. Twice in succession they 

 have been killed to the ground and next spring they will come up root 

 and branch and be "cremated" in the annual bonfire. 



The last essential of which I will speak is pruning, for very much of 

 success depends upon the skill and certainty with which it is done. Prun- 

 ing will supply nothing to the soil or plant, but unless the plant growth 

 be controlled or directed we shall not accouaplish the objects sought. The 

 plant will be less hardy and the fruit of inferior quality, but direct the 

 energies of the plant by pruning to the production of fruit and if there 

 be food enough within its reach you may count on a delicacy of flavor 

 equal to fruit grown in any section of the country, while in quantity 

 the fruit will be limited only by the capacity of the plant. Let the 

 strawberry runners grow and you will have a dense mass of foliage 

 and imperfectly formed fruit of inferior quality. Let the blackberry and 

 raspberry bushes grow at random and ten to one the cold will kill 

 lliem back, and if there happens to be fruit it will be of irregular form 

 and inferior flavor. 



POSSIBILITIES OK FRUIT CULTURE. 



Having spoken thus of the necessities I will now call your attention 



to the possibilities of fruit culture, showing what in the writer's 



experience may be done by any one here in Maine in a few years — 



in other words, formulate what any farmer or gardener may expect 



6 



