Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-07-21
Maine.
A CHEF INDUSTRY IN MAINE.


the home of President William Craig re.
Gently was a marked success in every
way. The attendance was represent
ative one and brought together horti-
cultural enthusiasts from the lecture
field and farm as well. President Craig
has a fine orchard which was visited iu
the forenoon. Professor Beckenstratel
demonstrated pruning principles in an
interesting way. The same was done in
spraying. Miss Annie Barrows gave a
helpful talk on domestic economy.
Mrs. V. p. DeCoster had helpful sug-
geStions to make along the line of ma
ture studies, emphasizing the need of
such in our country schools.
In his welcome address President Craig
reminded his friends that to be good
horticulturist or good granger one
should endeavor to take pleasure in
besutifying the spot on earth in which
we live. Speaking from an agricultural
standpoint he said Mr.. Supply and Mr..
Demand have had quarrel and mixed
up somewhat to the disadvantage of
fruit growers. Jack Frost made bad
matter still worse. The Importance of
among fruit growers was
The Missouri state horti-
cultural society says it would be better
to cut fruit trees down than not to CO.
operate. From quarter acre orchard
on President Craig's place there were
picked "a barrels Spys, six barrels Bald
wins, two barrels Hubbardston, "a bar
rels Tolman Sweets. This brought a
return of $500 to the acre.
Renovation of old orchards was dis
cussed in an interesting way by Professor
of the state college.
other things he said it is not an
easy matter to outline course OF treat
ment for old bearing orchards. Through
long years of neglect the trees have got
ten into the non bearing habit and 1t
may be next to impossible by any kind
of treatment to recuperate them. To
make apple trees bear we'll is to give
good and thoughtful treatment from the
time the trees are set. To begin such
treatment late in life is necessarily only
and too much should not be
of it.
Ii is first necessary to discover the
causes of its barrenness, to diagnose the
difficulty. No two worn-out orchards
have reached the condition through the
same causes and consequently no two
require the same treatment in renovat-
ing. A special study must be made OF
each particular case to determine the
treatment needed. Causes of barrenness
are: Old age, parasites, lack OF care,
and depletion of soil fertility.
Old age with orchard trees is rela-
tive term. In general the length of
time fruit tree lives depends upon the
fruit, the variety, and the environment.
The longest lived fruit trees are the
apple, the pear, the cherry, plum and
lastly the peach, following in order
named. Some varieties live longer than
others. A Wealthy apple tree has pass
ed its most productive years at 20, while
a Spy under proper care is hardly at its
zenith at so. Peaches live from Is to 20
years; plums 20 to 80; cherries 80 to 10,
and apples 50 to 80. Many orchards are
too old TO be worth renovation.
PARASITES.
Insects aud fungi contribute much to
the downfall of orchards. They are
increasing in kinds and num-
Der; in kinds by importation from for
eign countries, and in numbers because
the destruction of the wild food plants
upon which the insects formerly lived
forces them to feed upon the cultivated
plants. The concentration of feeding
and breeding places in orchards enables
them to spread more rapidly, just as
disease spreads more rapidly in the city
than in the country. Ships and rail-
roads bring them over the sea aud land
and neglected orchards afford fine breed
ing places for this rapid development in
Lack of care is perhaps the greatest
cause of depleted orchards in Maine
to-day. To find an orchard cared for as
" ell as other crops are cared for is the
exception rather than the rule. II have
come into possession of an orchard on
an eastern slope. The trees are stand
ing in sod. The tops are full OF dead
limbs crowded in and suckers are spring
ing up. 1t apparently has never receiv-
ed any care. Please let me know what
[ had better do for it." This is the
extract of letter typical of many that
the horticultural department has been
called upon to answer. The orchard II
it is cared for at all is cared for as q
" hole rather than in accordance with
the needs of individual trees. Trees
respond to good care just as we'll as corn
and potatoes or any of the highly cul-
.ivated crops do.
DEPLETION OF SOIL FERTILITY.
Orchard trees use up plant food the
same as other crops, but the common
neglect of orchards appears to indicate
that this is not generally understood.
Studies at Cornell have shown that ~
crops of apples remove more than twice
As much nitrogen, half again as much
phos phoric acid and nearly three times
as much potash as 20 crops of wheat.
Nobody would think of raising wheat
for 20 wears without manuring the land.
In case of wheat and other crops at
east part of the fertility removed oy
crops is returned to the soil each year,
while in case of fruit trees nothing is
returned. What is not taken away with
the fruit is locked up in the trunks and
branches and what is contained in the
leaves is blown away by the winds.
These facts lead one to wonder not
only why old orchards are failing, but
why they have not ceased to produce
fruit long ago. Soil exhaus-
ton is one of the most potent causes OF
declining orchards.
REINvI6oRArING OLD ORCHARDS.
Reduce the number of trees if they
stand too thickly. Many orchards here
in Maine are overplanted, and the trees
are rapidly deteriOrating because OF
Before branches begin
to touch, trees should be thinned.
Many orchards are on soils too wet for
orchard trees. Such soils should be
drained, for as long as the land is in such
A state no amount of care and treatment
will make the orchard profitable. Such
lands are usually sour and the applica-
ton of lime will prove beneficial.
Worn-out orchards have not been we'll
This is indicated by the unsym-
metrical heads, dead and dying branch
es. and great growth of water sprouts.
Prune the trees with view to correcting
these defects, to let in light and ar ana
to facilitate orchard operations. Heavy
pruning of the top induces wood growth
This pruning, therefore, will tend to re-
inyigorate the trees and to correct the
mistakes of earlier years. 1t is not
necessary or even desirable to cut on al
the water sprouts. Some OF them II
iudiciously selected will help to form a
new top and take the place OF the old
and decayed limbs. These water
sprouts are the results Of an attempt on
the part of nature to renew the tree.
What is wanted here is new and vigor.
ons wood TO take the place of the old
and dying. Heavy pruning is not a
ai-ant means of setting trees into bear