STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. gl 



Mr. Longfellow. I have 150 barrels in the cellar, all 

 russets. I don't know as there is anything I can say to 

 interest you so well as others present. 



Question. How old are the trees ? 



Answer. Most of them are young — 20 or 25 years old. 

 Our old trees are run down, and do not amount to much at 

 the present time. Most of our apples grow upon the young 

 trees. 



Question. Are any of them in pasture land ? 



Answer. Most of them are in mowing fields. A few are 

 in the pastures. 



Question. Do you top-dress considerably? 



Answer. We top-dress mostly, although we mulch to a 

 considerable extent. 



Question. Do you make a practice of applying the top- 

 dressing under the branches, or further around? 



Answer. As far as the branches extend. 



Mr. Floyd. There is one point of considerable importance 

 in this connection, and Mr. Longfellow suggests it, and that 

 is location. Mr. Longfellow has told us he raises the Rox- 

 bury Eussets to a large extent. There are some soils where 

 Roxbury Russets will grow well, and others where they will 

 not. The soil of his farm is of copperas formation, aud it is 

 on that account, I think, that he has been so successful in 

 orcharding. I ha^'e been familiar with the fact from my bo}^- 

 hood, that they raise good grapes and other fruits, but seem 

 to be especially successful in Roxbury Russets. I think 

 there is a ridge of land along the shore of the Cobbossee- 

 contee that is particularly adapted to the raising of that fruit. 

 Many years ago, at one point, they undertook to make cop- 

 peras from these ledges, but gave it up after a short time. 

 All along on these ledges apple trees flourish without any 

 great effort. I do not think Mr. Longfellow has manured his 

 land to an unusual extent. I have no doubt he has taken 

 care of his trees, kept the borers out of them, etc., as every 

 careful orchardist should do ; but the great secret of his suc- 

 cess is the location of his farm. I think it would not be 



