STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 131 



Wagner also. Ben Davis is condemned. My own observation war- 

 rants a high place for Hunt Russet and Golden Russet ; both exceed- 

 ingl}' productive, and of good flavor, and good keepers. Black 

 Oxford is praised, but not much raised. I speak only for Bucksport 

 and other towns adjoining, on the river about its mouth. In the in- 

 terior of the county they might tell a different story. 



We have a great deal of fogg}' weatlier here, being just at the 

 head of Penobscot Baj" ; and often cool and damp here when dry 

 and warm in Kennebec. I think the weather affects the quality of 

 the fruit. Flavors are not so sharp as with you. Hunt Russet on 

 my farm in Manchester is more acid than I like to eat ; here, just 

 right. Northern Spy is insipid compared with those grown in Man- 

 chester. Bellflower and most others not so good. Colors also less 

 bright here, generally. As to form, I have observed no difference. 



Chas. G. Atkins. 

 Bucksport. 



KENNEBEC COUNTY, 



The trees in my Greening orchard came from New York. The 

 distance apart is 24 by 24 feet, but they ought to have been 30 feet, 

 as the branches nearly touch now. I am quite sure it was seventeen 

 years last spring that they were set. The land, previous to setting 

 the trees, had been in pasture a great man}- years, and several inches 

 of the surface soil was made land from the wash of the road above, 

 which added very much to the fertility of the land. For several years 

 after setting the trees I cultivated the laud, planting with potatoes 

 and beans. It was then seeded to grass. I have mowed the grass 

 each year and put it around the trees ; in addition to this I have used 

 a good amount of swale grass with which to mulch the trees ; but 

 the last few years I have manured it in alternate years, spreading it 

 evenly over the whole surface. 



A large part of the land where ray old orchard was set was made 

 land, washed from the Seminar^' hill above (in some places ten inches 

 deep), and I find it has the staying qualities in it. On all of my 

 orchards the land was ston}' and rather moist, but not wet. 



From the experience I have had in orcharding, I am fully con- 

 vinced if we wish to raise large crops of fair fruit we must keep up 

 the fertility of our orchards, so that the trees will make a good 

 growth and bear a good crop of apples at the same time. 



J. W. Smiley. 

 Vassalboro\ 



