Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-01
A Practical Orchardists' Talk.

farmers who are already interested IN
orcharding and who have attended
lectures on the subject are famlllar
with many of the ideas advanced by
E. c. Miller at a lecture deNVereo Il"
Boston last week, nevertheless tney
are interesting to all. Mr.. Miller is a
nractical orchardist who conducts a
| large establishment at Haydenvllle'
| Mass.
He opened his address with plea
for careful, sane and conservative con-
sideration of the subject. He said
| First of all, in my opinion, apple
growing in New England is not get
rich-auick proposition neither is it the
easv way to acquire competency that
some might and do picture it, 1t is,
however, in my opinion, one of the
surest, safest, most interesting and
profitable lines of agricultural effort
that can possibly be associated with
our section of the country.
Having made his position on the
subject perfectly plain Mr.. Miller then
took I'D the discussion of orcharding in
New England in matter-of-fact way
which showed that he has learned
something during his years Of effort IN
conducting an extensive and profitable
apple growing business. He stated
that the apples which are peculiarly
adapted to our conditions, when well
grown. are of the highest degree OF
quality; that our markets are close at
hand; that the apples are already IN
great favor both in America ana
abroad; that there is no danger or over
production and that the danger from
competition with the far Western APP
ple is not so great as has been painted
because of the handicap in transpor-
tation.
Mr.. Miller urges, in orchardng, ex-
actlv the idea which State Assessor
Thompson urged in potato raising in
an article recently published in the
Journal. namely, that farmers should
cultivate orchards of a few hundred
trees or few acres at the start ana
let larger operations come later. If at
all. On this point he says, some
|countenance and counsel large orchard
Operations in New England. Large
operations are all well and good for
those who are skilled in orchard work
and in the modern methods of orchard
management, but l believe the inter-
ests of the apple industry of New
England will be best served by max
ing the unit of orchard operations rea-
sonably small a few hundred trees
or a few acres should be the limit at
the start for the average farmer apple
grower. A few wellcared-for and
profitable apple orchards scattered
over many sections of New England.
serving as a valuable object lesson as
to the possibilities of this line of eff
l,
of the industry than a few large or
chard enterprises. even if they should |
chance to be we'll managed"
Mr. Miller is of the opinion that an |
apple tree should annually grow to the |
value of 81 at least. and that with the
proper treatment it should approx
mate SO tree. and points out that this
of increase will add very
rapidly to the land value. He sug-
gests that states might exempt grow
ing orchards from planting to matur-
ty Another suggestion which is
worthy of interest is that of growing
apples under corporate management on
he ground that such corporations
would be able to purchase the best
AVAILABLE locations: that expenses
could be reduced to minimum; that
modern methods would be more easily
adopted; that it will be possible to |
>lant orchards and care for them I'M
ii the bearing period and then sell |
hem to individuals in small tracts for |
homestead purposes; that storage |
ABILITIES might be provided: that the |
~ products might be turned from loss
nto profit and that by judicious adj
-ertising the market might be i'm
proved
In closing he made the following
suggestions to the individual grower:
"A few suggestions to the individual
Inple grower may be appropriate and
helpful. Where trees in your old Or
hard are too closely planted cut out
very other one. Remove all unde-
;irable varieties. Begin pruning at
once, but extend this operation over
several years rather than try to do it
all in one year. Seal all wounds with
lead and oil. Wherever possible
plough and cultivate the orchard;
when this is not possible pasture Or
chard to hogs or hens. Accurate data
shows that best results are attained
where tillage is the rule