Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-29
SAVING OLD FARMS.
Deserted Homesteads in Maine Likely
to Be Redeemed

From the Lewiston (Me) Journal.
DR.. NJ. O.. Edwards OF Lewiston believes
In the future Of Maine farms. because he
believes in the Maine apple.
No in the world enjoys himself more
than DR.. Edwards does in his orchards in
Monmouth.
Il love Them" said he There's not a
day that do not plan for them In winter
am looking for new orchard land. In
spring l watch the trees from the time the
first twig starts until the trees are in bloom
There is no lovelier thing in the world
than to stand In the apple orchard when IL
is in blossom. When l can steal away an
hour or two from my practice I take a run
TO Monmouth and stand out there among
the trees. In picking time | frequently
work with the apple-pickers, enjoying every
moment of 1t l know nothing more lovely
than to stand in apple orchard and sea
the boughs bending with the apples until
you have to prop them. ISf there is
prettier sight l don't know It. And added
to it all Is the satisfaction of knowing that
you are producing something. If had
other business, | would be an orchardist.
Any man can make a competency at apple
raising. 1t is a safe business. 1t returns
Dig profits. You never have to seek your
market: for your market seeks you and,
year in and year out, It will do more for a
man in health. happiness and income than
any other business | know of at this time.
Deserted farms! There ought not to be 4
Maine hillside without Its apple orchards.
Maine can be in the apple world all that
California Is In oranges and in citrous
fruits. Love of city life depopulated the
farms. Love of country life will again pop
ulate them and we shall yet see the state
OF Maine making the price OF first-class
apples the world over. for the people Of
Maine Are sure to appreciate what there Is
In the Maine apple"
II quite agree with you" said another
gentleman who overheard the doctors con-
versation with the writer. II have loved
the orchard from boyhood days. There is
no other fascination equal TO 1t for me. And
Ii returns big money. too. know young
woman, for instance. who lives In Kenne-
bee county town. \ number of years ago
her father took piece of land for debt.
1t was most MISUNDERSTANDING low and
swampy. He drained ii and set out Ben
Davis apples. This year the young lady 10
whom this property has come has in stor-
age about 400 barrels OF the finest Ben
Davis apples YOU ever saw. | shouldn't be
surprised If she ultimately got close to 81
a barrel for those dpples-say 81, J00 Tor the
lot Why shouldn't other farmers follow
suit? I sold orchard two years ago.
was foolish TO do il, but had one or two
others and | got a good profit on the sale
and | finally accepted. | sold it 10 niece
of mine. a music teacher. She borrowed
moss of the money and went right 10 work
taking care of the orchard. 1t doesn't take
much time. A little ploughing, some phos-
phate and a good man with a JackEnife a
few days does the trick. This year that
girl has one of the finest yields of apples
YOU ever saw. She will clear up over SG0)
profit on the yield of the orchard this year.
Already she has il paid for and there Is no
reason why she shouldn't go on reaping a
fine profit from the orchard for years to
come"
What do you think is the best apple for
Maine orcba rtis?" asked the writer, turning
10 Dr. Edwards after this last speaker had
finished.
"Baldwins, Northern spys. Ben Davis, Of
course If / were planting an orchard to-
morrow 1 should plant 1t in Ben Davis.
They sell at big prices. they bear every
year. They keep as long as you ike ana
when well cultivated and fed are by no
means so bad an apple as a good many
seek to convey. The Liverpool and London
ma rlce.s taka them willingly.