STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 19 



are nearly perfection in juice and flavor. In this the apple but 

 illustrates a universal law of nature. The farther north anything 

 can be successfully raised, be it fruit or grass, or grain or cattle, 

 or horses or men, the stronger, firmer, hardier and better the crop 

 will be. And this is a good law for the inhabitants of harden- 

 ing New England to reflect upon, at least before emigrating to 

 the enervating southwest. 



In increasing the orchards of Maine, we need not fear that their 

 products will overstQck the market. Apples can easily be sent 

 from any portion of the State to Portland, and Portland is so 

 situated that it commands the markets of both England and 

 America. Our railroads and lines of coast-wise steamers give us 

 direct and intimate communication with all business centers of 

 our own country, while during six months of the year two first- 

 class ocean steamships will hereafter leave our port every week 

 for England. These ships commence their trips in November, the 

 best time for the exportation of our fruit. 



In 1872 the apple crop of Maine was one of unusual abundance, 

 and a single dealer in our city, William Allen, Esq., shipped to 

 England five thousand barrels of apples. The entire export was 

 somewhat greater, and from it our fruit-growers received twenty 

 thousand ■ dollars. The Maine apples are highly esteemed in 

 England, and every barrel sent out one year, will create a demand 

 for ten the next, and the English market is comparatively un- 

 limited. The best varieties for export are the Baldwin and the 

 Russet. 



Great care should be taken in packing. Use fresh, new bar- 

 rels ; pack the bottom row of apples in regular circles, one inside 

 the other, stems down. This is the end that will be opened, and 

 this mode of packing will cause the apples to present a fair and 

 regular appearance. Of course no Maine farmer need be told that 

 this top row must not be deaconed. Shake the apples well into 

 place as you fill up the barrel ; moderately round them up on the 

 top, and screw down the head with the Ames barrel header. This 

 is a screw advantageously adapted to pressing barrel heads into 

 place, costs but a trifle, and is the best machine for the purpose. 

 Apples packed in this way will be kept firmly in place, and can 

 be transported without any danger of being bruised. 



It would be well for apple growers to sort their fruit into three 

 grades^ Use No. 3 entirely for cider or feeding out to cattle, 

 cattle. No. 2 should comprise the medium qualities, and No. 1 



