19 

 Mr. Pineo's King of Tompkins. 



Mr. W. W. Pineo's extensive orchards at Waterville are located on a tract 

 of land which, in its original state, would not be considered very fertile or adapted 

 for general farming, but which has, under intelligent treatment, proved exception- 

 ally valuable for orchard purposes, as is clearly in evidence from the fine orchards 

 established on this property. Mr. Pineo has now over 100 acres in trees, ranging 

 from one to twenty-five years old. One block of King of Tompkins trees of 

 one and one half acres, planted in 1889, produced in 1909 three hundred barrels 

 of apples which netted $981.00. This same block of 75 trees produced in 

 1905, 175 barrels, in 1906, 225 barrels and in 1907, 260 barrels. 



The unimproved land in this vicinity is valued at from ten to twenty dollars 

 per acre. Much of it in its improved state is producing from one to four hundred 

 dollars per acre, clearly demonstrating the profitable nature of orchard culture 

 in this district under proper methods. 



Berwick. 



The town of Berwick is probably the centre or hub of the district in which 

 it is situated, owing to the fact that some of the larger packing houses and 

 orchard enterprises are established here. Mr. S. B. Chute, one of the leading 

 fruitgrowers, is carrying on what might be considered a very practical system 

 of intensive orchard culture, the trees being set 16^ feet apart each way, receiv- 

 ing annual summer pruning, and being kept well headed in. These trees have 

 borne good crops for a number of years, and promised a very heavy crop the 

 past season. The system adopted in this orchard is worthy of consideration 

 as being a very satisfactory method when close planting is deemed advisable. 



A peculiar feature in connection with the soil in this district is the fact 

 that for general agricultural purposes it would not be considered extremely 

 valuable or productive, but for fruit of various kinds, under proper care and 

 fertilization, it seems to be particularly well adapted. 



Shipping Stations. 



There are about forty shipping stations in the Valley and according to 

 Mr. Chute, Berwick will probably ship one hundred and fifty thousand barrels, 

 equal to one tenth of the entire output, during the season of 1911-12. This 

 point may be said to be the headquarters of the various co-operative associations 

 that have been formed, and from which very great results are anticipated. The 

 orchards of Messrs. S. C. Parker, W. H. Woodworth and A. S. Banks are all 

 located in this vicinity. 



Apple Warehouses. 



Eeference might be made to the methods adopted by the Nova Scotia 

 fruitgrowers for handling their crop. Large apple warehouses have been erected 

 at the shipping stations previously referred to, well built, frost proof, and of 

 large capacity. Five of these houses are located at Berwick alone. The fruit 

 is put in the barrels in the orchards as fast as it is picked, and hauled to the 

 warehouses, where it is repacked and placed in the cars for transportation to 

 whatever destination may be desired. This method seems to be working out 

 very satisfactorily, and as the growers are organizing numerous co-operative 

 associations, a uniform pack from these warehouses ought not to be difficult 

 to secure. A desirable addition to present facilities, however, would be more 

 numerous evaporators or canning factories to make use of the percentage of 

 fruit not suitable for shipping purposes. 

 22553— 2§ 



