92 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



some easily understood causes. To begin witli. it is not. generally, a 

 bearing year. Then, again, in most sections of our State the trees have 

 been so ravaged by caterpillars during the past three years, that it has 

 taken all their vitality to maintain life, to say nothing of the accumula- 

 tion of force with which to give a crop of fruit. Farmers who have in 

 past years derived a handsome revenue from the sale of apples, must be 

 content to get nothing from this source the present fall — a loss which will 

 be as sorely felt by some, as tlie absence of the fruit will be to others. 

 And it is a question worth considering, if we should not lind it profitable 

 to put on. as many good orchardists did in past years, a suftieient force of 

 workmen to keep the caterpillars in check, should they ever come in force 

 again ; and to so heavilj^ manure our trees that they may bear every year 

 whether the year be "odd" or "even." Cannot this be done? — Maine 

 Farmer. 



FEUIT-RAISING IN MAINE. 



Fruit-raising in Maine, during the past few years, has been on the 

 decline. There are probably twenty-five i^er cent, less apple trees in 

 bearing condition now than there were three years ago. The ravages of 

 the caterpillars cut off the apple crop two years, and left the trees in 

 such an enfeebled state that the crop this year is the same as a failure. 

 Large numbei's of trees having been killied by the effects of the ravages 

 of the caterpillars, farmers have been disinclined to purchase young trees 

 for setting new orchards. Their old orchards, they have seen to be 

 unprofitable and barren for three years, and they ai"e not certain that it 

 is going to be a good thing for them to set more orchards. 



Fruit-raising in Maine should take a " new departure," and assume the 

 importance which its merits deserve. No other branch of farming can be 

 made to pay the large and continued profits that fruit-raising can be made 

 to jield. An orchard of young, tlirifty and productive apple trees is the 

 best investment that anj^ farmer can make. If a man owns a good orchard 

 and takes care of it. he is as sure of a good crop every year as he is of a 

 crop of corn or potatoes. Even during the past three years, those who 

 have taken good care of their orchards have received remunerative crops 

 of fruit from them. Those who protected their trees from caterpillars in 

 1875 and 1S7G, harvested good crops of fruit, of four times the value of 

 what it had cost to protect the trees, and this year they will also harvest 

 a fair crop, and the high prices will make it a very valuable one. 



The experience of the past three years, however disheartening it has 

 been to those avIio fiuled to protect their orchards from the caterpillars, 

 has been full of encouragement to those who have i)rotected the trees. 

 They have learned that the apple crop is a sure crop if well cared for. 

 Those who have taken the best care of their orchards have secured the 

 greatest profit from them. 



In caring for an orchard, it is not sufficient to keep off insect enemies. 

 Something more is required. It is true that orchards will produce in 

 ordinary years some fruit — often quite a fair quantity — but with very 



