Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-02-28

| We present below the valuable and prac
tical article on orchard management. read
at the annual winter meeting of the State
Pathological Society by Hon. Rufus Prince
of South Turner. Mr.. Prince is one Of
the largest and most experienced orchsrdists
In Maine, and his paper, the results Of his
own successful management, presents many
useful hints and suggestions 70 those who
would get tie most from their trees:
The question of orchard management
embraces q wide field, and many columns
ght be proHtably written upon the sub
ject. but az my invitation was only to write
a short article upon the subject, will en-
deavor not to have YOU glad twice. Many
things can be done which would be called
good management in one case, that would
be suicidal in another. Then il one goes
into orcharding as speciality, as q leading
business, he must niece sssrily do differently
from the person with few trees, or even
an acre or two, where every twig eau be
watched and every extra spear of grass
eradicated.
Our great tr0tting horses only accomplish
their great feats by being carefully bred
and reared What would their breeding
amount to if it ended theres All would
say, nothing. Not single thing known to
man is left undone to produce the results
hoped for. Even then, in large maj ority
of cases, the fond hopes of the owners are
not realized. Still if the same care was
bestowed upon the fruit trees set in our
State for few years we should see results
that even the most sanguine dare not even
hope for. On the contrary. thousands of
fruit trees will be set in this State the com
ing spring, in not only run out grass land.
but even where the witch grass will in q
few days weave . net work Of roots around
the doomed tree so closely that even the
leaves Of the tree turn yellow with
fright If the tree survives the
drst year, the bark louise and
borer step in and render their assistance
in taking it out Of its misery. The owner
stands by, sees his beautiful tree die with
out even the first thought that he was the
instgator of its death. On the contrary
he thinks that his land is not adapted to or
charding. During the coming season he
sees the trees Of his neishbor, who cares for
them as though he loved them, growing Wig
orously in the same kind of lard a. his
not the coil, but that he was cheated in the
trees He therefore tries the trees sold BY
some other agent with the same result, and
repeats through life. In this way thou
sands Of dollars of the hard earned money
Of the farmers Of our State are annually
thrown away. and probably will be for
years to come.
While blowing an orchard always seemed
rough treatment, still l never knew one to
follow it carefully who WAS not satisfied
with its results. But blowing among fruit
trees should only be done BY enc who loves
them. one whose heart will bleed when be
sees a large branch or root stripped from
the trunk, as this cannot be done without
permanent injury to the tree. use my
orchards largely ~ sheep pastures, and do
tn. piowing with swine. In this way much
fruit that prematurely drops, 10 eaten by q
cisss that are not fsstidious, consequently
many worms are thus destroyed. There 10
also another advantage in this course. which
should not be overlooked. and that 10
where an orchard 10 pastured in this way
srd the sheep taken out short time be-
fore gathering, much Of the ripened fruit
falling on the soft pasture sward will not
be injured for market. while the came fruit
falling on plowed land or grass stubbie,
would be spoiled for tie market. Imme-
diately after gathering the fruit put swine
into the orchards and soon have the pleas.
ure of seeing them well plowed With no in
Jury TO the trees notwithstanding the team
used WAS strong and contrary. After the
blowing 10 done spread on good coat of
manure, and harrow thoroughly. and good
results follow
While believe that no part Of our coun-
try is better adapted to fruit growing than
our State, still It should ever be borne In
mind that no crops can be probably raised
in Maine without care and dressing, and
those who try to farm in say other way are
doomed to disappointment. After the trees
Of an orchard have become Of good size
that may live and bear Al occasional crop
Of fruit without much care, sill IL one
make any calculation apon Al orchards
being profitable, be must care for IL - he
would his garden OF corn field. II the Or
chard had ~ good care - our corn or even
potato fields have; the trees - we'll ma
nured. ~ we'll hoed, - our hills Of corn
and potatoes, our State would not only
have the reputation of being Q great fruit
growing State, but We should be richer by
millions than to-day. Many say that they
cannot afford to purchase dressing for an
orchard. still il they have cows giving milk
you will see them haul load after load Of
meal for the cows and think nothing Of IT,
whys Simply because they feed The meal
to-day. and to-morrov receive the ineone.
II the income cane - seos With The trait
Tree - with The COW. there would be great