The Portland daily press., 1878-10-29
AGRICULTURAL.
Fruit-Growing in Maine.

The Country Gentleman condenses the
following from the Fifth Annual Report of
Secretary Sanger of the Maine Pathological
Society.
PLANTING AN ORCHARD DIR. True gives
the details OF his methods, of which we fur
nished our readers some account last year.
He states in his present report that in plant
ing he finds it important to give the trees
slight inclination to the southwest, to protect
the stems from the sun for the same reason
he turns the wound occasioDed in cutting Oft
any large or useless limb, to the north two
stakes are driven tor each tree, to prevent
harm from the action of the wind placing
them obquely to the direction in cutivating
the orchard, so that the whiffie.ree will not
touch them. For example, if he cutivates
north and south, and east and west, he drives
the stakes northwest and southeast of the
tree, or southwest and northeast, which pre-
vents hitting in cultivating. He plants large
seedlings for stocks, and gratis them in
subsequent year, after they have begun a Wig
orous growth. He gives high culture. aud
prefers to have young trees grow, aud not
bear much. No man should ever plant very
large orchard, or he will neglect it. He must
be prepared for "drouth, winter killing, cater
pillars, snow, sun-scald, accidents, blight,
borers, aphides and starvation" ga faint
hearted man should never plant an orchard"
DIR. L. has found that general rules will not
apply to orcharding in different localities.
Every man must use his own judgment in
connection with experience.
SToCK-GRAFTING.-Ina answer to the ques.
ton whether grating Seeding trees after they
were set out and had grown in the orchard,
is better than setting out grated trees, the
numerous answers from members at the win
ter meeting were strongly in favor of grating
in 10 orah ri offo In roac bod hao
large that the branches, and not the stem,
might be used.
CRAB APPLEs.-The value of crabs was
thoroughly discussed, and they were gener-
ally denounced in emphatic terms. When,
some years ago, they were introduced, they
were recommended not only for extreme
hardness, but for the high prices at which
the fruit would sell, or at six or seven dollars
per barrel. 1t is found now that there is
little market for them, and they will not sell
for nearly the price paid for common apples;
while the persistence with which they hang
to the tree, with their small size, renders
gathering slow and laborious. DR.. Reynolds,
in paper on tie subject, stated that there
were already more trees planted than will
supply all the fruit needed, and that they
could not be regrafted to advantage, as they
make poor stocks. Mr.. Smith said ''crab
apples are not worth the picking" John
May said: "My opinion is that crab apples
in general are an immense humbug." Mr..
Wheeler thought tree or two would be we'll
for each fruit grower, for culinary purposes.
President Gilbert said there could be no rea-
SON for growing them except where the eli
mate is such that common apples entirely
fail. A letter was read from DR.. Hoskins of
Newport, VT, where the winters are intensely
cold, and where some years ago much atten-
ton was given to raising the crab in its many
varieties, in which he says, in speaking of
crab stock: SIT has got so in Vermont that
tree agent says crab stocks to fruit-grow
er almost at the risk of his neck. They have
had a full trial in Northern Vermont for
nearly twenty years, and the only result is
utter failure. The trees begin to fail almost
as soon as they come into bearing on crab
stocks" The Russian apples, he adds, as
Tetofsky and Oldenburgh, are the only sorts
that endure that climate, and although not of
first quality, are profitable.
OLD ORCHARDS.-It appears from state
ment of w. P. Anterior of Halowell, that
old orchards in that region do not often sur
vive 70 years. But he describes some iD
sheltered positions, which, after being long
neglected and allowed to become encountered
with weeds, were converted to sheep pasture;
the close grazing and the dropping of manure
soon effected great change for the better
the trees assuming a healthier appearance
and bearing more and better fruit, Another
example Is given, showing in striking light
the Importance of care and cultivation. The
famous Hesketh orchard was for long time
noted for its success and profits. 1t has be.
come old and most of the trees have either
persisted or are rapidly declining. During
the long period of It's prosperity, it was kept
under constant cultivation, and regular APP
pcation was made of manure purchased
from the city. More recently it has been
seeded down and no manuring given; hence
its disastrous deterioration. Mr.. Anterior
mentions distinct instance of improvement
by manuring. An old orchard had been long
neglected and it had almost ceased to bear
even its small and poor fruit. 1t was reno
waited and restored to vigorous condition by
top dressing with manure, and whole cart
load was given to one tree which had once
been favorite. "The effect, says Mr.. Ath-
erton, "was almost marvellous. The apples
grew to twice If not three times their former
size; they were very much richer in flavor;
they found ready market as table apples,
instead of going for cider as before" Mr..
A., after much observation comes to the con-
clusion that the best method for cultivating
old orchards is cultiudtian-not done by a
raw hand, but with care and skill, ploughing
shallow at first, and gradually deepening in
successive years; blowing only when the trees
are dormant-and in addition to this giving
moderate and regular dressing with manure.
Forest Leaves.