ORCHARD NOTES. 

 W. M. Munson. ■ 



As noted in previous reports of the Experiment Station, there 

 have been several attempts to disseminate certain varieties of 

 fruit which should prove hardy in some of the more trying local- 

 ities, and to encourage the cultivation of fruit for home use and 

 for market throughout the State. Although Maine is pre-emi- 

 nently suited to apple growing, there is a very general neglect of 

 this most important fruit. 



In 1889 cions of the most promising varieties of apples were 

 sent to leading orchardists in various parts of the State for the 

 purpose of studying the adaptability of these varieties to the 

 different conditions. The following year fifty-four Russian 

 varieties were obtained from Professor Budd of the Iowa Agri- 

 cultural College, and were sent to parties in Rangeley, Houlton, 

 and northern Aroostook with the understanding that written 

 reports were to be returned from time to time. With few excep- 

 tions these reports have been very meager and unsatisfactory. A 

 personal examination of the trees has been made, however, and 

 notes upon their condition and value made from time to time. 



In 1891, and for two or three years following, a special effort 

 was made to introduce some of the newer fruits mentioned into 

 the northern part of Aroostook county, where, until the advent 

 of the Oldenburg and the Wealthy, all attempts at apple culture 

 had failed. In accordance with this plan arrangements were 

 made with Mr. James Nutting of Perham to test such varieties 

 as might be sent him and report upon the same each year. Until 

 the death of Mr. Nutting, in 1894, this plan was carried out and 

 promising results were obtained. — See Annual Report 189 1, p. 

 97; 1892, p. 90. The writer has made several visits to the 

 orchard and recorded the behavior of the several varieties. At 

 the Station orchard duplicates of most of the varieties obtained 



