Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-10-15
agricultural.
STATE FAIR.


One OF the most interesting and proiila-
bic feature of our great annual State les
ii al is-or might be, did farmers take
pains to attsnd-the evening discus>ions
of topics vitality connected with, and un-
DERIVING their business. The meetings
were held this season at the Court House.
where ample accommodations were
found for those present aud room for
more.
The discussion was opened 10y James
A. Varney of North Vassalboro'. u gen.
Ile,nan that is engaged in the Nursery
aud Fruit growing bg.iness, and one that
knows whereof be aflirms.
Fruit Culture.
Mr.. yarnsy considered the subject OF
fruit culture vital 10 the best interests of
the State. Fruit raisingis Ia be sue
cess. During tho past three years OF
Drought our orchards have yielded
good return, while other crops have
been cut of Fruits are Indispensable
articles OF food and also luxurieS every
one may have. Every man may have
both large and small fruits They will
grow AMI thrive whore it is too rocky TO
plow. Discard all worthless trash often
offered by unprincipled nurserymen. Set
only good trees. Better pay the price
and burn them. than set rootless, worth
less trees. il we must DO either But lit
tie interest has been given, ~ yet, in the
StSts TO producing trees from seeds.
Trees that have not been trauSplsnted
ulTthree or tour years old arc next TO
worthless. The proper place TO plant
them is on the brush heap. Trees trans
planted at one year old, send out strong
lateral roots and thrive very we'll
Remove trees II one or two years old
after they have she'd their leaves. Trees
taken from thicket will not stand our
cold winters or hot summers. Set trees
not too near together. give plenty OF
room. Give double price for trees grown
singly. and well developed Slope of
ground TO North and West preferred for
orchard site. Every farmer may not
have Just the site tor an orchard no de
aires. In valley trees do poorly, cold
is more intense and heat more severe.
Give good cultivation; avoid extremes;
Keep the soil looss, mulch With any
available substance. We have thou
sands of acres of rocky land in our State.
Stony. slate or granite soil, unfit for Gull
tivA,ion. that would make good orchard
sites Dig holes OF ample Dimensions,
set the trees as deep as in the nursery and
fill in with rich soil.
Shelter is desirable. Wouldplant shell
tsrs OF ever.rsens all about our orchards.
Would even plant belts all about our
larms. Our fields have dO,erioraied; we
have cultivated some siX or eight inches.
ill we have robbed il OF It's fertility pillow
deep. manure we'll. aud we ale on the
road to successful agriculture.
lila, planted out six acres o! rough,
rocky and wet land to orchsrding ,undsr-
drained and plowed, and it is now good
The best time to transplant, is in the
tall. sson after the trees fall. Nursery
men tell Us to plant in the spring, for ii
suits their convenience best.
Spring is short and crowded. autumn
is season of more leisure. would prune
in autumn. Plant apple trees. thirty
feet apart Pears eighteen. Believe,
in dwarf apples and pears ior yards and
gardens.
Col Kelsey first orchard has de-
cayed, have set out others to replace Il.
has set out $50 trees and lost but few.
W. b. Gibbs, Glenburn. set out a rocky
and worthless piece OF ground. 70 New
York trees, grated. and in three years
had fruit thinks he has got sound. good
trees. Set my pear trees and grape
vines. are doing well. So far "a he
knows, all New York trees are doing
well that have been taken care OF.
Where they fail, people pasture orchards.
OF neglect them in some way.
W. Thompson. Gardner, thinks tree
from New York nursery needs extra
care.
Hon. Samuel WATSON, Surry. Bought
his present farm in 1861. on il were ssme
twelve or fourteen New York treeI. Has
bought trees from within and without the
State. Thinks he obtains fruit earlier
and truer TO name from the New York
trees. than from Maine trees Borer
does not trouble New York trees with
hin Is badly IS Natives Believes we
are about TO be driven into the culture of
fruit by circumstances. Believes wool,
beef, and butter has become Improbable
to the farmers OF Maine by circumstan-
ces. Has had good success with dwarf
trees.
Carpenter OF Prltston, wants to. know
if be understood the gentleman who open
eel the discussion. Did be say he set out
trees on the North and West Slspe. then
set out dig eyergreens TO protect them ?
What shall the Young man 90 when he
goes home; buy New YORK trees or not?
Some here tells him 20 buy them; others
not. Set r. |. greeniuga LOFTY nine
years ago, was good then i good now.
Believes in sticking to old tried Kinds of
fruit. Finds it hard work to keep the