96 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



More Qitrs/ions — Can we not raise trees here quite as well suited to our 

 wants as to send so much money abroad for them? Is it not better for us 

 to propagate more largely from some choice sorts, which have their origin 

 in Maine, and are of known re^jute for hardiness and market value ? Some 

 of tlie most vigorous trees I have seen growing in tlie State were from 

 seed dropped by the wayside and in pastures. The feeble condition and 

 early decay of some orchards is doubtless owing to the weak or diseased 

 stock from which the seed or graft is taken. ***** 



Pears — Chickens and Insects — Increasing attention is being paid to the 

 cultivation of Pears, and in some places with good results. From some 

 observations at home and in the western parts of the State, I find a larger 

 per centage of pear trees are saved, and the entire failure of fruit is not 

 so frequent as with apples. Wliile visiting C. C. Barrett, of York, one of 

 the most enterprising farmers in that section of the State, I was shown a 

 lo£ of one hundred strong pear trees just set on soil well adapted to their 

 needs — a strong, deep soil, inclining to clay loam. His eight to ten hun- 

 dred young fowls among tliem were protecting them from the insect tribe. 

 I will licre ask if the borer has ever been known to damage apple trees 

 wliere plenty of chickens liave had access to them during the entire sum- 

 mer? I. Wells, of Kennebunkport, recently showed me a small orchard 

 of smooth trees, where the soil had been effectually scratched over by his 

 fowls being yarded under them. They had been set twenty-two years. 

 He had gathered 10 1-2 bushels in one season from a single tree. Next to 

 fowl, sheep are the best stock for pusturing in the orcliard. 



Seasonahle Sugr/estions. — After exterminating the caterpillars, we antici- 

 pated about one-lialf a crop of api)les tliis season, but nuist submit to 

 almost an entire fjiiiure. many trees not liaving apples enough to pay for 

 looking after; and the few wliich the swarms of insects have spared are 

 often badly bitten. Early apples generally are doing better than late 

 ones. Trees are making but a moderate growtli, and are not looking 

 vigorous generally. Care should be exercised in pruning trees now wliile 

 in a feeble state; better wait until the tree recuperates and shows a 

 healthier look, before amputating large limbs. Witli a sharp pruning 

 knife in my pocket, while looking after or working alongside of my trees 

 (most of whicli are in single rows by the fences), I can easily keep my 

 trees clear of sprouts and useless wood, only using the saw occasionally. 

 When I discover a vigorous sprout coming out below a diseased branch, 

 I am careful to retain it, so as to nuike a liealtliy substitute for the old 

 one. Again, a branch wliich shows syinjitoms of decay, may sonictimes 

 be saved bj^ allowing just suckers enough to grow to keep up the cinnila- 

 tion. With judicious pruning, I find the stump less inclined to "bleed" 

 or turn dark and decay early than when pruned in the spring. — *S'. N. T., 

 Vussalboro', in the Maine Farmer. 



