The Republican journal., 1910-11-03
Practical Orchard Work at
Winterport.
Turf, Farm and Home.]

OF Everett Bartlett OF White S Corner
Winterport, having visited the place ir
April, June and September for the pur
pose of applying the spray. Little or nc
spraying has been done in this,s fine
orchard section, and very important
object of the work was to demonstrate
the efficiency of these operations from g
commercial standpoint, and by the object
lesson thus set forth induce the fruit
growers to begin this work in earnest.
The results We're highly satisfactory,
both to the college and to Mr.. Bartlett,
who says that he will never let a season
go by without spraying his whole orch
ard
At the last meeting of the North
Waldo Pomona, Mrs. Bartlett gave no.
tice of the meeting for Saturday, Octo-
Der Is, and invited all present to attend.
ilege.
Prof. V. R. Gardner and W. R. Palmer
with party of nine students from the
college arrived at Winterport station
armed with all the paraphernalia neces-
sary for orchard laboratory work, not
forgetting the all important cameras,
and We're met by Mr.. Bartlett with a
large fruit express wagon for their
Transportation. All aboard and the
crowd was made target for the snap
shot before starting for the objective
point with two of Mr.. Bartlett's fastest
horses, one of which he designates as
his automobile because of his record
trips over the country.
The orchard was reached about 10
o'clock and tour of the place begun.
Some, in fact over half, of the fruit has
been picked, but in the sprayed section
two of the trees We're left that the
visitors might see the beautiful sight
presented by the laden trees; some of
the gathered fruit was in crates under
the trees where it had grown.
The fail varieties have been sold and
what of the gathered fruit that was not
yet marketed was stored in the cellar.
This included, among other varieties,
Spies, Benton Reds and Ben Davis.
About 900 barrels of fruit have already
been gathered and more in the orchard
will bring the crop up to neArly 1000 bar
rels. The apples will be shipped out as
soon as possible, as fast as the market
demands will permit, and judging by the
amount of orders on hand it will not be a
slow process.
The Baldwins are still on the trees and
Mr.. Bartlett said of his work with this
variety that he prunes severely IN the
spring, dresses with three bushels of
barnyard manure to the tree and allows
sheep to crop the grass close IN the TALL.
He has the Baldwins each year, but says
that he does not know whether it is due
to the treatment or not.
The owner accompanied the visitors
over the orchard and the students were
given many practical points in fruit Gull
ture. In pruning and grating Mr.. Bart
lett pointed out that the stag horn top
had the advantage in that it would not
split down when loaded with fruit. He
showed a tree of natural growth that had
leaned over almost horizontally when
starting and then been made to- take
turn almost at an acute angle and was
growing thrifty looking gratis. He had
sawed the tree off, let it grow branches
two years and then put in the gratis
which had begun TO grow upright and
were gradully balancing the tree to pro-
per and normal posture. Another top
worked tree had yielded one and one-half
barrels of Kings the fourth year from the
graft.
In one part of the orchard Mr.. Bartlett
spoke of some work that he proposed
doing Said he: Some Of the trees are
ungainly and tall and am going to cut
the tops back to normal and let them
start bush top like the orange trees in
the south. | know we can keep the top
down and | believe we should with all
trees cut back within three feet of the
grated stub in December when there is
no sap, it will start out in the spring and
the sap will not run in so as to damage
the tree.
New barrels were brought to the place,
lining paper, nails and press were handy.
The iirst thing the students were shown
how to nail the bottom hoops so as to Sc
cure the bottom and not allow them to
appear in the barrel. Two nails were
next put in each remaining hoop save the
top one which was removed, one nail
fastening the lock, and all were clinched
on the inside The barrel was then ready
to line. Paper was put in the bottom
and the sides were lined and the paper
folded over the top. The side lining was
not necessary unless particularly nice
package was desired They open the
stenciled end, - said Mr.. Bartlett and we
want the apples to look we'll when open
ed so we select pc feet fruit of average
size for the variety, perfect around the
stem, and place in stem end down; the
proper part of this game is fit them in
sung
Not an easy thing to do, suggested
Prof. Gardner.
IF nice package is DESIRED" con-
tinued the instructor for the time being,
put in another row of facers. Always
handle carefully, if you begin to be rough
in your work you will grow more so. All
kinds of fruit should be handled very
carefully"
A glance in the barrels showed the
apples ranged in concentric circles with
three in the centre.
IF particularly nice job is desired,
face both ends" said Mr.. Bartlett, going
on with the work. ''Fill in between the
facings with the fruit and shake the
barrel gently occasionally to make solid.
If No Is are being packed the facing
should be perfect apples, only smaller in
size.
The barrel was finished as directed and
after the facers had been placed blossom
end down, and when ready for the press
Mr. Bartlett again took charge. Cover
over with paper" said he land put on
the head, then the hoop and apply the
press Keep the forearm braced against
the arm OF the press and use gentle
pressure to work the head in gradually,
hitting cautiously with a glancing blow
oftGle Ratchet to pound into place. Al
ways keep the head Of the Ratchet up and
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