Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-23
STATE HOUSE.
Annual Report of The
State Horticultural.
Prof. Little Of BoxdOin Speaks
On Book Selection. :"
Municipal Officers Are Negligent In
Sending In Bridge Data.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Regular Meeting of Governor and
Council, Thursday, Sept. 10. at 10 Am.

The first annual report of State Hor-
ticulturist Albert X. Gardner, which
was made public Thursday, states that
| the season of 1911 was particularly sue
cessful from the standpoint of the
orchard. The early and long con-
tinued drought, which was SO detri-
mental to some of the crops, did no
particular harm, especially in the ar
charas where cultivation was prac-
tised.
'"The early drop was heavy but
enough fruit was left ON the trees TO
insure . fair crop. 1t is estimated, 50
FAR shat the product reached 1,000,0o8
barrels, a 10 per cent inereaSe over the
preceding year The fruit was very
highly colored and of good size and
showed to good advantage at the diff
f.rent fruit exhibitions. Lack of CO.
operation, except in a very few in
stances resulted in low prices in va
rious localities and demonstrated more
clearly the need of work along this
line.
More interest has been shown in
box packing of apples and the box is
gaining favor among the growers of
fancy fEllt. 1t Is Out VI lltt tQSSlIAii "
.pack interior fruit in boxes, however,
as the financial returns will be ne
greater than from the barrel, unless
very strict grading is practiced. Wrap
ping should always be praeticed where
the fruit is put in boxes, not only be-
cause of the more attractive appear
ance, but because of the fact that
spread of decay and danger from
bruisng, especially in a loosely packed
box are greatly lessened.
THE different Insects We're busy
during the season and a great deal of
damage resulted The bud moth be-
gan it's work early in May, and was
followed by the brown-tail moth. can
ker worm, old tussock, coddling moth,
railroad worm, fall web worm and
borer in greater or less quantity In
young orchards the green aphis APP
peared in large numbers and worked
havoc, where left alone. Fer dis
eases the canlter was an easy first in
damaging the trees. Scab was COM
monty seen on some varieties particu-
larry the Mcintosh, and constituted
the principal disease OF the fruit.
Grown gall and woody aphis gall
appeared on little of the nursery stock
introduced into the State and in most
cases the growers did not plant the
infested trees. The scale insects were
common with the exception of the San
Jose scale. OF the small fruits the
raspberries probably suffered most
during the season and about half a
crop resulted. Winter injury, insects,
diseases and drought all contributed to
I i. t,,f. 5f,+
berries.
Strawberries suffered also from the
long drought and resulted in not over
a GO per cent crop The extremely
hot weather of July caused the goose
berries to drop in great quantity.
Currants did as we'll as any of the
small fruits and gave fair produce
ton. Blackberries were rather below
par in size and tended to be hard and
imperfect.
"Of all the small fruits, probably the
netted as good financial re-
turn as any, when the capital invested
is considered. The growers in Wash
ington county especially are enthusi-
astie over the chances for develop
ment in this line in the future. The
few cranberry bogs in the State APP
pear To be in good condition. The
water problem appears to be the
greatest obstacle in the way of the
of the business"
The report of Field Agent a. o.
Pike, in charge of the gypsy moth
work. which is made a part of the
State Horticulturist's report. gives the
total number of infested towns,
Jan. 1. 1912, as Sc. Towns found
to be infested during the year
covered by the report were:
Hollis. Limerick. Cornish, Limington.
Durham, Brunswick, Lis
bon, Auburn. Topsham, Harpswell,
Phippshurg, Bath, WooIwich. George
town, Bowdoinham, Lewiston, Rich
mond, New Gloucester, Westport
Newcastle, Whiteheld, Damariscotta,