The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-05-10
Somerset County.

Following are reports published in the
recent Agricultural bulletin, written by
Somerset county correspondents
SKowHEGAN--I have recently learned
of severa lots of apples BEL G sold to
agents. who packed them themselves and
sold them 10 merchants. These apples
were packed with all of the smaller ones
in the middle OF the rrels. When COM
plants came. it is reported that the agent
claimed they were packed by the farmers,
who were blamed tor the condition OF the
apples. The lesson to be learned from
this is that farmers should, as far as pos
sible, market their own fruit, seeking TO
deal directly with retailer or consumer
and by honest packing and placing name
on every barrel establish reputation that
shall create demand for their goods.
ANsEL HoLwAY.
CoRNVILLE-The natural enemies OF
insects are birds. Were the natural re-
production of birds allowed there would
be enough of the feathered tribes OF field
and forest to reduce the insect pests 10
such status as would allow more com
plete or with and development OF vege-
tables, grain and fruit. Birds. at the
behest of greed and fashion have been
cruelty and wantonly slaughtered. Care
fui observers estimate that the average
decrease in tird life in this country during
the last fifteen years has been more than
forty-six per cent. Is there no power IN
the state or nation to stop this Infamous
slaughter of the innocent and useful? Is
fashion above and beyond the Introduction
OF the law? ALoNzo SMITH
SoLoN-Will early blight in time cause
the potato to become worthless, or will
the seed, If planted, cause the potato to
grow full of bad spots3
STEPHEN MERRILL
TNote.-We have seen no evidences
that the early blight on potatoes tends TO
injure the vitality OF the seed. II sound
,ubers are planted there will be no danger
of their producing potatoes with bad
spots.
ANsoN-The small fruits OF my expe-
renee consist OF strawberries and cur
rants OF he strawberries, have sue
ceeded as well with the old varieties Of
Wilson and Sharpless as with any For
curants. have set Fay's Prolific
lHiik lDCf dc W iHO SIb" S'OWib w nj +
aheao OF the stock borer ard that a more
thrifty variety is he safest to set
GEORGE FLINT.
Moscow have one small orchard Of
100 raspberry plants that were set the
spring of 1897 Last Seeson | picked
nine bushels OF fruit from thep. They
sold readily. They are the Shaffer's CO.
lossal. | lay them down in the fall
They are NOT so good for table use as the
Cuthbert but are better for ca ming, and
the yield i; nearly double. | have used
Slahl's pump tor orchard spraying and
have been well paid for the expense.
ELMER A BAKER.
SKowHEGAN-My trees were mostly
set rom ten 10 fifteen years ago have
cultivat them some, but rely mostly on
mulchirg use anything and every
thing that IS of a fertilizing nature; ashes,
coarse manure, weeds and India wheat
str w partially rolted. PIuning is very
essential. Cut away the surplus limbs
while the trees are small and the wounds
will be less severe and better crop will
be secured. One must con END all the
time with the increased and ever increas
ing enemies of the orchard.
S. F. MERsoN.
PALMYRA and vegetables ate a
healihful and nutritious diet. The almost
entire failure of the apple crop in this
section last year, has aroused the fruit
growers to the importar ce Of looking
after the trees and shrubs early and late
Insect pests and fungous growths are on
The increase To produce fruit under
present conditions requires skill. alert
ness, industry, good cultivation and fer
Utility. p. LoNGLEY
LExINGToN--We should destroy all
wind ais, to prevent the ravag.s of the
Trypeia am thinking Of burning the
ground over in my orchard to get lid Of
all eggs on the leaves
John H. GREEN
LARoNE-It is easy TO know how TO
set an orchard today, but what 10 do with
the orchard that is already set and was
starred wrong is the question oil greatest
interest | would suggest that an lnves-
tigation be made along this line, and that
we may have the matter in a bulletin in
the n, az future We think apples Can be
raised on land that cannot be cultivated
WILL p. " INSLOw.