THE MAINE STATION AND POMOLOGY. 

 Chas. D. Woods. 



Since the establishment of the department of horticulture in 

 the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, in 1891, the subject 

 of orcharding has received considerable attention. As is well 

 known, the Station is located too far north to successfully grow 

 the apples for which Maine is most noted, and the soil at the 

 University of Maine is illy adapted to orcharding. Aside from 

 a study of hardy fruits for northern Maine, it was not until 

 co-operative experiments were begun with Mr. Chas. S. Pope 

 at Manchester, about ten years ago, that very definite advance 

 was made in studies of orcharding by the Maine Station. Mr. 

 Pope very kindly placed his orchards at the disposal of the Sta- 

 tion, and what has been accomplished during the past ten years 

 has been largely due to this liberality on the part of Mr. Pope. 

 These investigations in orcharding were planned and conducted 

 by Professor W. M. Munson, and have been reported in the bul- 

 letins of this Station from time to time. The present bulletin 

 summarizes and brings up to date the results obtained. As is 

 known to most of the pomologists of the State, Professor 

 Munson resigned his position with this Station in July, 1907, 

 and is now connected with the West Virginia Experiment 

 Station. 



It has sometimes been urged at the meetings of the State 

 Pomological Society, and elsewhere, that the Maine Agricultural 

 Experiment Station should devote more of its energies to the 

 fruit interests of Maine ; that these interests are important ; 

 and that there are many questions which are pressing for solu- 

 tion. The management of the Station appreciates the value of 

 the pomological interests of the State, and the need of investi- 

 gations, both scientific and practical. It may be fitting to out- 

 line here the reasons why it is not hoped, in the immediate 

 future, to undertake further fruit studies ; although it is recog- 



