The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-11-27
Flavor of Maine Apples Not
Excelled.
Prominent Winterport Orchardist Op'imis-
tic Over Names Possibilities for Apple
Growing
Bangor Commercial. ]

Growing.
Bangor Commercial
while we probably will never be able
to raise such fancy fruit as does the
State of Oregon the flavor of the Maine
apple cannot be duplicated by any other
apple-growlng section in the country"
was the remark made during the recent
Bangor fruit show by A. L. Blaisdell of
West Winterport, who has one of the
largest orchards in New England.
With 10000 trees set, 5000 of which
were in bearing this fall, Mr.. Blaisdell
has taken up orcharding in earnest and
is devoting his entire time to what he
believes is one of the most profitable and
certain industries the business farmer
can follow in Maine today. While COM
paratively a new hand at this line of
work Mr.. Blaisdell lacks nothing to make
success of the business and is display
ing a keenness and enterprise that has
characterized the efforts of all of the
Blaisdell boys who left Winterport early
; in life to engage in business elsewhere.
He came back to Maine several years
ago from Pennsylvania, where he was en-
gagged in business and entered into the
apple industry, starting with compare
lively small orchard and increasing it
until he now has one of the largest in
New England. In the last four years
he has set 1000 trees and next year
much larger number of trees will be in
bearing Mr.. Blaisdell believes the Bald
win is the best apple to raise in his To-
cality and that it comes nearer to serv-
ing all demands than any other. The Ben
Davis is also favorite with him and
part of the bearing trees this fall were
of that variety. In addition there are
200 Mcintosh, LOO Stark and 1880
Wolf River that are three years old and
TOO Stark and 400 Wolf River that are
four years old. He also has large num-
! Der of Gravensteirs. The entire tset
covers about 100 acres.
Il wouldn't dare take farm and try
to make living out of it unless had an
orchard on it, said Mr.. Baisdell in con-
versation with Commercial representa-
! tive. "Give me the trees every time:
| Maine apples can't be beat in flavor, and
while our Oregon friends raise fruit OF
fancy quality they can't touch US IN f1a-
vor, and then there is another thing
we've got a market here they can't drive
US out Of. Maine has bright future IN
orcharding and all we have got to 90 Is
to raise the fruit that the Maine climate
and soil is capable of growing. -,
The Wolf River is. also very well
adapted to this section, according to Mr.
Blaisdell, and in regard to variety he
says that all kinds are not suitable tor
the same locality. Slight changes IN the
climatic conditions will favor one variety
over another and these must be noted IN
making the selections. The foliage OF
the Wolf River is beautiful and the fruit
itself is handsome and it is next to the
Baldwin as universal apple for TINS
section. The Mcintosh, he sa!d, Is with
out doubt the best eating apple that Is
grown here, but it is an easy victim OF
the scab and it has been his experience.
that there is nothing that will make II
immune from this damaging fungus.
This year he sprayed and sprayed put
without result and as q consequence mas
decided to graft his young Mcintosh
trees to Stark or some other variety