Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-17

the past have upon our practice as or
chardists. can see beyond the clouds.
The orchardists Of Maine are awake, as
never before. II the possibilities of their
calling. and to the Importance of doing
the right thing at the right time and in
The right way.
New occasions bring new duties
Time makes ancient good uncouth.
They must upward still and onward.
Who would keep abreast Of truth
recognized leaders in matters pertain
ing to pomology. He is a man past
middle age, fine looking. an eloquent
and logical talker and a native of New
York. He has been on an institute tour
with Secretary Mckeen of the board of
agriculture. His subject. today. was.
Some New Problems in Horticulture
He said in part: The last time |
met this society was in North jay.
three years ago, and storm spoiled the
meeting Today, it is under different
auspices.
We certainly have problems as well
as other professions. 1t was these
problems that caused the depressing
times partially. We have been study
the past 30 years has made great com
petition for US. The Eastern farmer
has to compete with the West. We
can't compete with California without
improving upon our methods.
When We take up horticulture we
have a most difficult problem. It's de-
velopment has been large. TranSporta-
ton places Western fruit beside ours
in the markets. l was recently in Mis-
souri, and saw the thousands of acres of
orchards and | began to think of what
we should do to compete with them.
THE attractiveness of their manner
of packing and preparing for market
is something that we must learn. The
attractiveness is preferred by the buy
crs. but not so much by the consumer
The Westerners have learned not only
to raise, but to put up attractively.
I'VE must get varieties that can be
raised in the quickest possible time
from the date of planting the orchard
We can't leave an orchard to take care
of itself We must bring it to bearing
in the least possible time. A period of
from eight to Is years is supposed to
be needed to get an orchard to bear
ing. but it is not SO.
Recognize in trees the same princi-
pals of the law of hereditary as in ami
NAL life. Select buds and scionS from
trees that are matured. My expert
rnents with Northern SpyS was inter-
estng. This tree is able to resist dis
ease and insects. l chose buds from
trees of perfect formation and some
that raised good fruit OF 100 trees /
found only two or three that came up
to the standard. This is the principal
/ have worked upon in other varieties.
Il can show specimens of Southern
Beauty raised on a tree that had been
top worked but three years.
"Pums are looked upon as luxuries.
They are ever in demand. The prune
represents high quality. 1t is suppos-
ed to be something that cannot be
raised in the East: yet we are raising
them in central New York. I chose a
I.ambard plum tree and top-worked
with a Western prune. This gave ex-
cellent results.
When we put our soils in the same
condition as those of the West then
we can meet competition. We have the
flavor that eXcels the Western and
quality is the determining factor.
THE cross fertilization of one apple
blossom to another has also been eff