Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-13
Maine Apple Crop
a Good One, Says
Chelsea Expert

Chelsear sept Y - George A.
Teaton ~ this town, formerly presi-
dent of the Maine Pomo!oFieai So
ciety, has long been knoan az one Of
the apple experts Of Maine.
From his earliest boyhood he de-
lighted 70 he IN orchards and was
continually studying some method Of
improving them. He NaE but IS
years 81 age when he began his hrst
experiment Of developing an apple
from cross between the Baldwin
and the Macintosh Red.
Young Yeaton had noticed that the
BALDWIN vas little too tender for
Maine winters. while tho Macintosh
vas subject to a fungus growth.
and he conceived the idea Of hy-
brfdizing the two and producing a
stronger tree and better apple. To
do this he placed bunch Of buds
on ItaldWin apple tree In o muslin
bag 50 That no Insects could reach
them 70 pGllenize the blossoms whom
shey came out. He then did the
same thing on n Macintosh tree to
represent the anel pollen. and this
vas the nrst step in his experiment.
The various stages OF the experiment
required somc four years and then
came the hybrid fruit The appla
"-as Of good size. and OF delicious
hnvor, but unfortunately Of n light
color and therefore not fitted for the
ma rket
Not until 1912 did Dir. Yeaton
again take up the experimental
phase 81 the business, and that year
ne made more than 200 crosses and
combination
Mr. Yeaton has DEVELOPED d new
apple from a cross Of the Northern
Spy and the sBenfower. The new
fruit resembles somewhat the Maid
en- Blush, has a good favor and
good keeping qualities. staying hard
and In good color up to June. The
only dra ~back is the skin. which is
too tender for much handling.
hr, Yeaton is not great believer
in dyna mite in planting an orchard
lie says that the average farmer
cannot afford the e<oensr He saws
that, II dynamite rs used. the hole
should be blow. in the fall and the
notion tamped to prevent surface
air from drying the earth and root
lets. Then the trees should be set
the following spring.
IF I had TO choose between fer
tHizing or cultivating an orchard
then / would give cultivation every
tine. At the same time q combina
non of the two is still better. In nv
Judgement. Cultivation congery4s
The moisture of the soil and is an
important factor on wood growth Of
Inc trees, as well as the quality and
quantity Of the fruit. Stable manure
az three cords to the acre ia exceI-
lent
AS Tor fertilizers. there can he
nothing. better than nitrate Of soda
Tor quick growth in the spring. when
needed. might say that In matured
heids five pounds Of nitrate Of soda
to tree is good allowance. and II
should be placed in the soil in the
spring. It's energy is expended early
and thus the fruit is allowed to grow
and rfpen early Phosphoric acid IS
also good. and this can be had from,
basic Stag, blood and bone. An A.
chard must be sprayed three times
during the season and lime sulnhur
with arsenate of lead kills both in
sect pests and fungus groytbs T
nave controlled % per cent. ~ tho
apple magget or railroad worm bv
special spray.
'lf a sized
the FRUIT SHOULD be thinned. TO al
low a tree to bear fruit as close az
II can grow is certain to produce
underlined apples that will never
sell for fancy fruit. Since boxing
apples has become popular. large
and fair fruit Is more necessary than
ever. Another important feature is
the clover crop. When the orchard
is we'll drained, as it always should
be. clover crop sown in July is a
splendid proposition. It furnishes
mulch for winter and humus for the
soil. ANY farmer must learn the les
son that an orchard to do its best
must be cared for as well as corn
or potatoes.
Maine has wonderful future for
its apples, providing the farmers
rise 10 the occasion. Our fruit is
finer in color and favor than in any
other section OF the country. ! can
see nothing ahead but cooperation.
This is the western method that has
made such great success.
I'VE must also study the market
and send the kind of fruit demand
cd. Take up the English market for
example Conditions have changed
some. 1t is better TO send the, Veal
thy apples over early--almost as
soon as picked. 1t has become
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