130 STATE P03IOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



I will say the Roxlmr}' Russet does not succeed well with me, and 

 it is the general complaint ; but I think owin<^ more to the soil than 

 the climate. I esteem high, granite land the best orchard land in 

 this county, particulaily for the Baldwin, and the thicker the boulders 

 upon it, the better the tree will thrive. The next best is the schis- 

 tose soil. You will remember that is the kind upon which my orchard 

 stands. I have given my Roxbur3' Russets the best of care, but my 

 Baldwins out-bear them ten to one, and I am satisfied that my soil 

 is no place for them and shall graft a part of them to Baldwins next 

 spring. Franklin Count}- apples have the reputation in the markets 

 of being of fine flavor, well colored and late keepers, and most of 



our winter varieties attain a large size. 



S. R. Lelanu. 



Mt. Bahhvin Farm, Farmington. 



HANCOCK COUNTY. 



Fruit culture is not pursued in Hancock County on such a scale 

 .as in Kennebec or any part west of the Penobscot River. Occasion- 

 ally the crop of apples is insuflScient for home cowsumption, and 

 winter varieties are brought from Boston, but generally there is a 

 small surplus for export. Orchardists do not appear to have studied 

 the market much, and the list of varieties raised, though a long one, 

 consists largely of varieties little known abroad. 



I think there are more Baldwins raised In this vicinity than any 

 other sort ; though just across the river to the westward Bare-Limbed 

 Greening takes the lead. The Baldwin is not, however, so well suited 

 to the climate as to that of Kennebec, and does not attain such per- 

 fection. The tree ap[)ears in general hardy enough. 



In the old orchards you will find the Yellow Bellflower, Kilhara 

 Hill, Nodhead, Blue Pearmaln, Mathew Stripe (or Martha Stripe), 

 a very sour winter apple; an old-fashioned russet, something like 

 Roxbury, Hunt Russet, Stone Svveet (a hard winter sort). Queen's 

 Pocket (winter), Lyscom (September; also known as Mathew, or 

 Martha Stripe), Hightop Sweet, Williams' Favorite, Golden Russet 

 (early), Leland's Golden Pippin, Bell's Early, and a long list of ob- 

 scure sorts, mostly unnamed. 



In the younger orchards are Wagner, Northern Spv, King, Golden 

 Russet of Western New York, Red Astrachan, Duchess, Graven- 

 stein, Fameuse, Ben Davis, etc. First four appear to give satisfac- 

 tion ; also, Fameuse and Gravensteln. King Is praised by growers ; 



