THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
45 
trees are not dug until the natural fall of the leaf. Strip¬ 
ping does not seem to be practiced as is the case in this 
country. 
8. In the mattei of handling the seedlings when out of 
the ground, our French nurserymen exercise much more care 
and discretion than is often seen in this country. The 
seedlings are not exposed to the sun and wind, nor as indi¬ 
cated above are the leaves sweated off by using artificial 
heat. There was little evidence of aphis either on leaf or 
root. 
9. Persistent inquiry in regard to the prevalence of 
crown gall and hairy root elicited the information that these 
troubles occasionally appeared, but that all infested speci¬ 
mens were discarded. Not only were they separated, but 
they were destroyed. The diseases were regarded as dan¬ 
gerous and something that must be treated in the most 
sanitary manner possible. 
10. It does not appear that all of France is equally well 
suited for growing apple seedlings. There is in fact a com¬ 
paratively small area in central France, in the region men¬ 
tioned above, which seems to be peculiarly adapted to the 
cultivation of fruit stocks. This is undoubtedly owing to 
soil as well as labor conditions. 
11. Summing up then briefly the salient features of the 
French apple business, I would say that they have a pecul¬ 
iarly favorable climate, they have rich soil well adapted to 
the culture, and finally they are blessed with an adequate 
supply of skilled, efficient, and withal cheap labor. 
EDITORIAL WANDERINGS 
The editor found himself, he was almost going to say in 
the wilds of the Pine Tree State, about the middle of No¬ 
vember, that month classed with the group of the “saddest 
of the year,” etc., and at a time in Maine when railway 
stations are crowded with hunters and gunners. A few 
years ago one might have said, dogs and other hunters, 
but nowadays the deer have better protection and a greater 
chance for life. Apropos of this and judging from discussions 
one hears occasionally, they are altogether too well pro¬ 
tected ; if one were to take the laments and protests of some 
New England orchardists as representing the actual situa¬ 
tion, the deer has turned the tables on the New England 
resident and is carrying the war into his own camp. But 
our guess is that this situation will not last long. Of course 
it has its very annoying features at the present time, but 
our shrewd opinion is that for one orchard injured or des¬ 
troyed by deer, there are ten which “go by the board” by 
reason of neglect and carelessness on the part of the owner. 
November is an attractive season of the year, notwith¬ 
standing the supposed melancholia which surrounds it. 
Especially is it attractive in New England when the trees 
are shedding, or have shed their brilliant autumn coats and 
the rugged outlines of the hills are being revealed. It is then 
that we appreciate the sentiment, picturesque New England. 
In coming down from Boston,—or may be it is going up 
from Boston,—to Waterville, one of the regions which 
attracts the traveler’s attention, is the territory surrounding 
the so-called twin cities, Lewiston and Auburn, separated 
only by the boundaries of the winding Androscoggin. Here 
manufacturing and the attenuated remains of the lumber 
industry are apparent. There is little to suggest tree grow¬ 
ing either from the standpoint of the nurseryman or the 
orchardist, but nevertheless there is abundant opportunity. 
Many of the rocky hillside might be utilized in the growing 
of good Spies and Baldwins, hillsides that now stand practi¬ 
cally idle or bring comparatively small returns in milk and 
butter. 
The objective point of our journey was Waterville, 
which is known as the seat of Colby College, an institution 
of learning, whose history goes back to the early years of 
the last century, and which represents one of the conserva¬ 
tive and much respected colleges of the east. 
The Pomological meeting was fairly well attended. The 
Pomological Society of Maine is one of the older horticul¬ 
tural organizations of the country. It receives a grant of 
a thousand dollars from the state, which provides a prize 
list for fruit and flowers and thus secures an attractive 
adjunct to its annual meeting. This grant enables it also 
to hold summer meetings and publish a creditable report. 
The exhibition this year emphasizes, as in years past, the 
fact that in these relatively high latitudes the character of 
color and quality become manifest in apples, and that 
Maine can produce as fine apples measured by appearance 
and quality as any part of the country. The question is, 
why does she not produce more? 
One of the difficulties undoubtedly is that business and 
manufacturing interests of the state are dominating, and 
the young men who ought to take up fruit growing in a com¬ 
mercial way are led off into other channels which promise 
larger and more immediate returns. 
Again the orchard interests of Maine are apt to receive a 
rude shock at the hands of Old Boreas from time to time. 
Such an one occurred in the winter of 1906-7, when the cold 
was somewhat more severe than normal, and this was ac¬ 
centuated by the fact that the snow fall was abnormally 
light. Thousands of trees were injured and many more 
were killed. But after all this condition is one which at¬ 
tends fruit growing and farm cropping in all parts of the 
country. There is no region which is absolutely exempt, 
and the Maine fruit grower should make up his mind to 
stick to the enterprise with the conviction that he will win 
out in the end. The Maine State Pomological Society has 
a great field before it and the officers of the organization 
seem to realize their opportunity. 
The National Nurseryman, 
Gentlemen: Your favor of the eleventh to hand. 
Enclose you $1.00 for our renewal to the National Nurseryman 
for 1909. Would not like to be without your papers. 
Respectfully, 
Bruchly and Butts. 
