STATE POMOLOGICAL 80CIETT. 91 



Golden Pippin, Bloom, Alterton, Gideon and Magog. The Wealthy 

 has proved, so far, hardy, productive, and a good keeper. But 

 above all and beyond all, Mr. Merritt considers the New Brunswicker 

 without a peer. 



From this hasty glance over the State we find that fruit culture has 

 its present limit at or near the 45th degree of latitude in Franklin and 

 Somerset counties ; in Piscataquis, about twenty miles farther north ; 

 in Penobscot, on or just below the line ; in Hancock County, twenty 

 miles farther south ; in Washington, near the line, and in Aroostook 

 as high up as 46 degrees 24 minutes. Fruit is actually raised in 

 Aroostook, in a small way, 110 miles higher up than in Franklin ; in 

 fact, if you should travel that distance north of Rangeley it would 

 carry you out of the county and a long way into Canada. Now, 

 what does this line, which varies so greatly, go to show ? Certainly 

 not the climatic line of fruit culture. It onh* marks the present pro- 

 gress of the business as determined by population, cultivation of the 

 land and the interest manifested in this branch of agriculture. I 

 wish to say, in closing, that no man in or out of the State has done 

 more to advance the cause of fruit culture in our northern counties 

 than Dr. Hoskins of Newport, Vermont. Aroostook Count}', in 

 particular, is indebted to him for many valuable varieties, and these 

 varieties could not be obtained and tested without patient investiga- 

 tion and long and careful experiments. Perhaps he, or some one 

 equall}- as diligent, will yet discover the apple which for Aroostook 

 and our other northern counties shall take the place of the Baldwin 

 in Kennebec and other southern and central counties, and then we 

 shall have no climatic line. 



In the absence of the writer, Mr. Atkins' paper, which was next 

 on the programme, was read by Hon. Rufus Prince. 



THE MULCH QUESTION. 



By Chas. G. Atkins. 



Next to the fertilizing of the soil, there is no practice more gen- 

 erali}' approved or urged with greater emphasis by those assuming 

 to advise about the formation of plantations of fruit trees than that 

 of mulching. I do not remember ever to have heard a dissenting 

 voice from this general verdict, that a newly planted tree or shrub 

 should have a good coat of mulch spread about it. When, however, 

 it comes to the continuance of the practice during the successive 



