The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-03-09
AGRICULTURAL.
FRUIT CULTURE IN MAINE.

fhurr CULTuhE IN MAINE.
The following paper is communicated 4
the patent Office department, at Washington
by Henry Little, Esq, Of Bangor. Mr.
L. is one Of the many hor,iculluris,s o.
Bangor, who have made ,ha, city famous
for its gardens and fruits -
Although am in the mercantile bust.
ness, my favoriie pursuit for many years
las been 10 ascertain what choice fruits will
hes, suii the climate OF Maine, and more
particularly the locality Of Bangor and its
vicinity 10 introduce and disseminate such
fruits as widely rs possible on Penobscot
river, and through the Stale. The repuia.
ton Of many fruits will depend on their
location. Wha, may be strictly true Of a
huit grown in Maine, may be as strictly
false OF the same variety il grown in Penn.
,ylvania, or further south. In the one case,
Il may be first raie; in The other, inferior
ia favor. Therefore, in the selection Of
varieties, the pomologis, should be inhuenc-
ed by the climate Of his location. Our
climate differs from that Of England, yet i,
approaches nearer 10 il than most other
States; for the fruits that best thrive in
hal country, grow in grea, perfection in
Maine.
know ofno way ,ha, lands in this region
can be used 10 so great profit as BY the
cultivation OF The finer varieties Of fruits.
No crops command SO high prices. For
en years past the avarage price in our
aaIkst has been Tor apples 81 per bushel /;
lor plums, The best varieties, 81 per bushel.
For pears still higher price. Ia this par,
of the Stale the demand 10 greater than the
supply AT these prices.
There il lively interest awakened here
on the subject. AMI we have in this city a
hourishing horticultural society, which an
nually holds highly respectable show OF
huit ; particularly fihe apple, the pear,
and The plum.
GRANTING AND BUDDING. There is annu-
ally. al the right season, much grating and
budding done. The grating is mol perform
ed by splitting the stock, but By "saddle
rraihg,n which is very popular here for
the trees grow perfectly sound a, the juno.
ton, as the scions nearly oil live and thrive
wheu tue grating cloth is used. here
give the method that is adopted, which, as
Far a. can learn is uniio: mly praciiced on
this river. First, take six pounds Of bees-
wax, one pound Of rosin, and one pin, of
linseed oil, (noolher than linssed oil should
be used and melt them well together over
slow fire. Then while warm, with a
pain,.brush, spread the wax on one side Of
closely woven cotton cloth, which cut,
when waxed, into strips m may be wanted.
say half an inch wide and from nine 10
twelve inches long, according TO The size
Of the stock to be grated. have used
this grating cloth with almost sure success
for many yeats. II is very pliable, easily
worked. aud contains nothing ,ha, in the
leas, Injuries the scion, or stock. No strings
are necessary, and the work nay BE- very
neatly as well as quickly performed. These
waxed strips may also be used in budding
trees. Some use more rosin than one TO
six pound Of beeswa3 but rosin is mol SO
pliable rs beeswax, and The only reason
use any is for its adhesive quality. All
sions fruits should be grated vety early
in the spring. | have grated plums and
cherries w,lh success when the snow was
over ioo, deep where the trees stood. |,
was in the mouth OF March.
The Paradise stock is used for apples,
though some enerait upon the Doucin
siock. Fur dwaIfing certain varieties oi
pears, the ApgrH ounce is preferred ior
| the pnrpose. For the cherry, the Mahaleb
s,ack is employed. For pluns, the Canada
plum stock is mostly used bui it operates
like the pear on the thota or mountain ash,
the scion ouigrows the stock.
The cherry.,ree should DO grated before
the fros, 10 ont OF the ground. ...l-
MASuRiSG TREES. In this and the othe,
States OF New England, where the land is
not ,ich, some OF the farmsrs are in the
habit Of gathering irui, hom their orchards,
for succession Of years, without giving
the soil any nulIiment IN Maine, II we
take heavy crops iIom the soil, We must
enrich il in return. or i, will soon be ex'
hausiei. and the fruit will deieIinraie.-
There is more danger Of starving our frui'
trees, than Of giving them TOO much food.
1 ihsref5re see no good reason why We
should manure our lands fot crops Of when,
corn. and potatoes, and utterly neglect Ia
enrich the soil for our crops Of fruits. One
Of our farmers wa asked why his apples
were 30 much superior to those Of The same
4 VMtcil tuScu Nv ule netgnOOts y bfCausos
he replied, ." IA, my apples by snrichins
tho soil around the roots Of my irees."-
There was good sense in the reply These
observations would mol be called fot. II We
all had soils like The prairiss Of the West,
We bave in this State ample mraus 10 fer.
tilize our soil. for growing fruit. by swamp
or pond muck, IN any quantity desired
lime, ashes, bono, and oiher fertilizers.
Understanding land is beginning to al
tract attention; and 80 FAR as il is praciiced,
Il has in every instance been attended with
erea success. Perhaps is 10 moro bene-
fetal here than in other soils. Dwariing
frui, trees has become fashionable, more
especially in cities. .-.....,
with Us, the apple is greatly enhanced
nv i,s long keeping qualities when The
cnllisaior plants trees OF varieties that will
ripen in succession, he has this fruit in per.
frc'ion the whole year. I, is no, only val.
liable tor the dessert. hut for culinary. pnr
Posss. even in dried state. Sweet aprles
are wholesome food and should ba cult
waited more extensively. think that our
fnrmoru Hould 6nd n rnuch A., ths:- sl,>n