The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-12-13
A Fine Fruit Farm.

|
vember 4th, there was held at Horticul-
tural Hall, Boston, combined exhibition
of the American Pathological Society,
the New England Fruit Show, and the
Massachusetts, Horticultural Society. The
different sections of the United States
were represented by the particular fruit
of that location.
Maine was represented by CONNER
cial exhibit consisting of barrelled apples,
and in addition to this apples in boxes,
plates and hundred lots, which were en-
tered in competition with other New
England States, and which brought to
our State several prizes.
Apples were not the only fruit shown,
as grapes from many parts of New Eng
land were delight to look upon, and the
canned fruit showed that the New Eng
land housewife was practicing conserva-
ton.
The addresses on various topics de-
livered by men of wide knowledge were
very instructive and inspiring to those
privileged to listen to them
Several public spirited Boston citizens
placed their automobiles at the disposal
of the visitors, and one of the trips of
much interest taken by the State Horti-
culturist of Maine was to the city of
Fitchburg to visit the extensive orchards
of Mr.. Marshall, which are considered
the nnest in the world
These orchards consist of nine or ten
thousand practically perfect trees, most
of them being of the Mcintosh Red va
riety. Intelligent and up to date meth
DDS of fertilization, pruning and spraying
have been combined to bring about these
results.
| Since the methods employed by Mr..
Marshall are so successful, few words
in regard to them may not be amiss On
the older trees which have been set about
twelve years, the sod mulch system is
used This consists of heavily mulching
the ground around trees for an area even
larger than the tops cover. In addition
to the grass and hay thus used, ground
bone is utilized, ten pounds to the tree.
The price of potash which was. used for
merly is so high that it is no longer prac-
teal.
For the younger trees, those of two
and three years, different method is
employed, that of cultivation. crops be-
ing planted between the rows.
Generous spraying is employed in these
orchards. Besides the dormant spray,
used before the foliage appears in the
spring, five sprayings are given at inter-
walls during the summer and fall while
the apples are in various stages of growth,
and still later in the season after the ap-
pies are picked, the trees are thoroughly
sprayed for the seventh time. Since the
cold, damp weather of fall is favorable to
the growth of scab on the leaves, which
falling to the ground, send the spores the
next spring back to the tender foliage,
this last spray is recommended as an in
surance for the next years crop. 1t also
tends to hold the leaves later, thus caus-
ing the fruit buds to ripen properly for
the next season.
| Probably the Mcintosh Red apple is the
most susceptible to scab of any variety
known, therefore, it is remarkable that
on these thousands of trees there is abso-
lutely none to be found on fruit or foliage.
So confident is Mr.. Marshall of the
efficaciousness of this spraying that the
offer which he has made of one dollar
for every wormhole found in the calyx of
any apple has been open for years and he
has never had to surrender dollar.
This fruit is sorted according to size
into five different grades The first grades
are marketed in partitioned corrugated
pasteboard cartons holding one hundred
apples. The smaller grades are sold by
bulk and marketed in bushel boxes
There are no seconds in quality, all the
fruit being perfect.
If the same spraying methods used on
this Massachusetts, farm and the same
amount of care were put into our own
orchards, Maine with her great natural
advantages of soil and climate would in
a few years boast of hundreds of orchards
as fine and producing as perfect fruit.