Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-15
The Gregory Orchard Contest
Judges Will Next Week
Tour the State for
Final Judging
STATE HOUSE CHAT
Prosecution Reported to Fish &
Game Dept.-Forest Fire in
8 Range 8-R. R. Inspec-
tion-Corporations

The judges of the Gregory Orchard
contest, State Horticulturist A. X
Gardner, Assistant Horticulturist H.
P. Sweetser and Wilson Conant of
Buckfeld, will start the first of next
week on an automobile trip through
the State to inspect the orchards in
the contest and make the final judg-
ing. They expect to cover about 1900
miles and complete the inspection in
two weeks. The State horticulturist
was appointed one Of the judges of the
contest by State Commissioner OF Ag-
riculture J. A. Roberts and Assistant
Horticulturist H. P. Sweetser and Mr..
Conant were appointed by Governor
Haines.
To those who are unfamiliar with
the conditions of the contest the fol-
lowing abstract from circular of in
formation on orchard work, published
in 1910, will be of interest:
LAS a result of the New England
Fruit Show held in Boston last Oc-
tober Q91O) Mr.. James ]. H. Gregory
of Marblehead, Mass, has given to the
State of Maine $1,000 first mortgage
bond, with the provision that at inter-
walls of five years 5000 of the interest
shall be paid to the orchidist who
shall show to a committee of three the
most excellent orchard of one acre or
more grown on his own land, of trees
of his own selection (the Ben Davis
exeepted) for five years from setting;
the first planting to be in the spring
OF 1910 and Judged in 1915. This most
generous offer of Mr.. Gregorys has
In 0xh
This great movement has received the
hearty support TO many of our leading
orchard men throughout the State,
with the result that a large number
have entered the contest and names
are being booked for an acre or more
of standard apple trees. For informa-
ton regarding this contest this circu-
lar is published.
Although we do not wish to issue
cast iron rules or provide for a whole
lot of red tape, we do believe that if
We are in the forward movement for
better fruit for Maine and if we would
place our fruit on par with that of
our Western neighbors, we must
adopt the best methods known to the
fruit industry. We must gain the con-
the consuming public before we can
hope to make a success with our ap-
pies. Our first duty is to thoroughly
renovate our present orchards and
then enter this contest to show tliat
We believe in the possibilities of our
Maine grown apples. We have the best
OF soil, as good a climate as can be
found, for many choice varieties, and
one of the best markets in the world
at our doors. Why should ont Maine
lead in this important industry that
means so much to the health as well
as profit Of our people,
Also an abstract from the second
yearly report of the contest Q911) will
give information as to the progress of
the contest. 1t reads as follows:
The second yearly reports from the
listed Gregory orchards have been re-
ceived from most of the contestants;
q having failed to send theirs into the
office as yet. II is OF be hpoed that
these men have not dropped out of the
contest and will let US know what their
orchards have done in the past season.
On the whole the results have been
encouraging and present many points
Of interest. The individual losses in
some cases have been very large and
tend to bring down the average good
results"