Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-18
KEMNEBEc POMONA
Holds Successful Fruit Day Meeting At Ws.'
Gardiner.

Wednesday, and was one Of the most sue
cessful meetings of the year. 1t was a
fine day for meeting and members from
10 oranges were present in fine spirits and
full of enthusiasm. Worthy Master Cliff
ford called to order promptly at the
opening hour and proceeded with the
business of the day.
As this was the meeting allotted to the
4 display of fruit. ample accommodations
were provided for the exhibit on the
ample platform of the hall back of the
lady officers position. A fine exhibit was
made, all of the following entries being
beautiful specimens. in their several
classes:
Litchfield Grange. by W. Otis and son,
six varieties; E. N. Pinkham, apples 4
pears; G. H. Palmer. 4; VIM. Cunning
ham, 16 apples, pears.
Winthrop Grange, w. II. Keith, l APP
pies. Z pears; Mrs. l.. X. Litchfield, 1
apples.
Ter, IL varieties: G. A. Fuller. 8; G. Went
worth, 2; F. Cannon, apples l pears;
Towle Brothers. 9 apples; f. Lowell. / ap-
pies. pears; Arthur Merrill, 6; F. Curtis
l apples 2 pears; d. Merrill, apples, i
pears; John Pinkham, l apples: g. w
| French, l apples.
| Manchester Grange, T.. r. Mayo 8: w.
l.. Mace, 5; +. II. Parlin, Z; ]. Il. Collins,
2; Mrs. Foster, l pears:
| 1IJHSe, IL. w. FeltenElll. 4.
l.. c. Berry. 2; e. N. Pinkham presented
trace corn also TObique seeding potatoes.
II. A. Fuller has fine specimen of
| King Philip corn, which he says is an
early variety. +. Cannon, extra large
onion; A. w. DeFratus, 6 varieties beans:
also Il beautiful fancy stand having over
| 1900 pieces wood in the top; a collection
| of pumpkins, squash and other vegetables
| by F. lowell; cranberries were presented
| by c. TOwle. G. Wentworth, w. Grinnell.
| and Towle Bros; varieties canned fruit
| by Mrs. Alice Towle. Some very nice
| rugs We're also exhibited, the whole maxi
| ing an attractive display.
Owing to the necessary absence of d.
| H. knoWltOn, secretary of the State Pom
illogical Society, who was expected to be
| present to judge the fruit the worthy
master appointed L. X. Litchfield to per-
| form this duty.
Lecturer pro tenn, ]. H. Yeaton of Cap
itol Grange, called upon w. H. Keith to
open the subject of Fall and Winter
| Care of Fruit Trees" Brother Keith has
| some 500 trees in bearing, mostly set on
| rough pasture land. He mulches largely.
| using brakes and meadow hay. Has used
| barn yard manure, also commercial fer
| tiliZer with good results. Where there is
Il tough sod he finds 1t pays to dig it up
round the tree, using pick or fork hoe
for that purpose. Ashes are very bene-
| fetal to trees. Young trees should be
protected from mice. Stamp snow down
hard. that will keep them from the tree.
| i
! find a shovelful of manure around the
tree stamped down works well. l prefer
to trim a tree when it is in blossom.
use liquid made of alcohol and shellac
to heal wounds; it prevents water from
getting in.
Willis II. Wing of Manchester. was the
next speaker. He did not do any work
on trees in winter. Neglect an orchard
| for a few years and it will take years to
get it back again. How to protect our
trees from various foes that modest them
is desirable to know. Bark lice infested
my trees to such an extent l tried to find
remedy. l called it up In our grange
| meetings so persistently that one eve
ming l received a May basket from some
young ladies. containing fine tooth
comb. and a note. saying it was the most
effective remedy known for bark lice. The
| fall and winter care depends on what the
spring and summer care has been. Mice
did not work in meadow hay used as
mulch, but they did work in grass cut in
the orchard used for the same purpose.
| The sharp edge of the meadow grass
protected the tree. Well fortified trees
don't appear to suffer from pests to so
| great an extent as the neglected ones.
The fat sheep has few ticks and the good
| conditioned dog doesn't suffer from f1eaS.
1 have moved mulching away from body
of tree about a foot and filled in with
dirt stamped down with good result.
| Have also removed the mulching and
| spread manure then replaced the mulch
and the result was very gratifying. If
we keep pests out and fertilze our or
chards. results will be good.
Owing to the prevalence of caterpillar
pest the past year. it was claimed that
| on account of the large number of eggs
laid. they promise to be more abundant
next year. Eggs should be destroyed.
also nests as they begin to appear: wild
cherry trees should be cut and burned
and every means used to destroy this
pest in it's earlier stages. 1t was claimed
that spraying would be of benefit.
Brothers Yeaton, Mayo. Keith and others
took part in the discussion. recess was
then declared for dinner.
In the afternoon the topic was Future
Policy of Maine Fruit Growers; What
Shall it Be-" opened by Prof Elijah Cook
of Vassaboro. a member of Cushnoc
Grange who is an earnest, rapid speaker.
having Il large experience in Orcharding
as well other farm work. The few
ideas presented in this report are but a
small part of his interesting address.
Farmers were discouraged last year.
also the present year. but that should not
cause them to give up the most profitable
industry man can engage in. That fruit
| raising was, in part, disastrous, is a fact.
Many orchards in New York were not
| gathered only as they were needed for
use. The Maine farmer should learn to
dispose of his crop to better advantage.
Properly handled last year the results
by the speaker of lots shipped from Dee.
% to March &c. the net price ranged from
IA cents to $2.10 per barrel with an aver
age net price to producer of $1.19 per bar
rel Ibis man received over $1,000 for his
apples. Apple buyers made a good thing
last year. The producer ought to have
had the profit. In New York trees or or
chards are highly cultivated 1t pays
there and it will in Maine. We have the
advantages. An orchard there nine years
after planting bore apples; eight acres
averaged four barrels to tree. 1t was
treated same as corn field. You may
raise good fruit on any land if properly
treated. They are sprayed every year
when in bloom on a cloudy day. The ap-
pies in Mr.. Jones' orchard were nearly all
No. /. 176 barrels from 16 trees; II bar
rels to tree. From Is to 20 tons dress
ing were applied per acre. High cultiva-
ton gives best results Farmers must
put the word can't out of their vocab-
ulary Last years crop will prove a
blessing in many ways; on account OF the
spread of the product over new territory.
No such thing as OVERRIDING the business:
consumption is growing rapidly; bread
eaters have increased one-third in %
years. The scale of living is higher than
% years ago. Every nation has increased
with exception of Russia; that has de-
creased. More fruit is needed as the
scale increases. Preying insects seem TO
increase: this fact will prove an incentive