UMASS/AMHERST # 31E0t.[DDD52ai517 |^"j!^' .^x*-;-!! .""•,•••■ V ■ " '*, ■,-j"*-' .-^■.- {AJN,y/u;.'iONS MMW: : STATE POMOLOGIQ :^^^^^™ ^^p .0^-M4^^ DATE DUE 1 UNIVERSITY OF MASSACtlUSETTS LIBRARY SB 354 M234 1904 ^.MITH & REIT) ^ TRUE M. MERRILL, Sabbath Day Lake. See page 134- TRANSACTIONS OF THE Maine State Poiiiological Society Kor the Year 1904. EDITEn BY THE SECRETARY, D. H. KNOWLTON. AUGUSTA KENNEBEC JOURXAL PRINT 1905 .mS*/* m^ CONTENTS PAGE Secretary's Report 5 The 1904 Situation 5 The Markets 5 Meetings of the Society 6 Officers for 1904 g Members of the Society — Life 10 Annual 11 Treasurer's Report 13 Business Transactions 16 Meetings of Executive Committee 16 Public Meetings 18 Orchard Meeting 18 Annual Meeting 19 Officers for 1905 20 Report of Committee on Sweepstakes Prize 21 Resolutions 22 Report of Committee on Resolutions 23 Papers, Addresses and Discussions : Annual Invocation, by Rev. George Merriam 25 Annual Address of Welcome, by Hon. Charles A. oMarston, 26 Response to same, by Dr. Geo. M. Twitchell 27 Annual Address, by Pres. Z. A. Gilbert 28 Lessons Taught at Our Orchard Meeting : What a Young Fruit Grower Learned, by Edward L. White 33 Home Fertilizers and Cultivation, by V. P. DeCoster 35 How Trees Dressed with "Fisher Fertilizer" Last Year Behaved This Year, by S. H. Dawes 38 Talk About the Experiments and Results, by Prof. W. M. Munson 47 Fundamental Principles, by H. P. Gould 51 Commercial Orcharding in the United States, by H. P. Gould S6 Favorable Conditions in Maine, by R. H. Libbey 64 Profitable Fruit Growing in Maine, by E. H. Cook 68 Same, by L. H. Blossom 71 ^G (p o^' 4 CONTENTS. Papers, Addresses and Discussions — Continued : page Same, by Secretary Knowlton y^ Variation in Apples, by H. P. Gould 75 Discussion of Varieties 87 Our ]\Iarkets, by Dr. G. M. Twitchell '. 90 The Fruit Market — ]\Iarketing Apples, by E. H. Cook. .. . 100 Brown-tail and Gypsy Moths : The ]Moths and What They Threaten, by Edith ^I. Patch 1 10 The Brown-tail Moth in ]\Iaine, by Hon. A. W. Gilman 117 Among the Roses, by Aht\ F. Stevens 121 Some Thoughts upon Horticultural Education, by Prof. W. M. ^lunson 128 Secretary's Portfolio. True JNI. Merrill 134 Legislation 137 Act of Incorporation 14c By-laws 141 SECRETARY'S ANNUAL REPORT. the; 1904 SITUATION. The Cleveland Leader says the crop of salable apples in the L^nited States this year is acknowledged a little less than fifty millions of barrels, which means something like 30,000,000,000 apples, or an apple every day for every man, woman and child in the L'nited States. The editor remarks that these are tre- mendous figures, and the most surprising fact about the apple crop is that all of it might be grown in a single county in the state of Ohio, provided that all the trees were well matured and in good bearing condition. Here in Maine the crop is about the same as last year, though some have placed the crop above a million barrels, and it is prob- able that more than 500,000 barrels will go forward to market. In some portions of the State dry weather affected the orchards, but the general conditions were favorable, though the Baldwins were generally of less size than usual. Insects and fungi have been less injurious, and winds and storms dealt kindly with orchards until late in the season. The early autumn frosts injured some of the lowland fruit, and the later frosts were still more injurious. There has been a scarcity of help, barrels have sold from 30 to 42 cents, and worse than all the price of fruit has been very low. As a result thousands of barrels of Maine apples were not harvested at all, and thousands of those that were were fed out to stock later in the season. THE MARKETS. There were fewer buyers than usual and these started out at a dollar per barrel. Nearby fruits supplied the Boston market, where the price was off for everything save a few varieties. The outlet — in manv cases the onlv outlet — was to send the fruit to 6 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Europe and "suffer"" the consequences. The satisfactory leturns made on consignments of the best fruit sent in 1903 made it an easy matter for the agents of EngHsh commission houses to secure large shipments. Everywhere they told the growers to send them only the best fruit properly packed, but for all this there was much carelessness in putting up the fruit, and when the returns came in they were not satisfactory. The supply was large, and our fruit was in competition with local fruit and that from Canada, packed and exported under the "Fruit Marks Act" of the Dominion. Through the entire season the Canadian fruit was in the lead and sold higher than Maine fruit. The growers in many cases ascribed the low prices to other causes, but in our ignorance of the actual conditions one cannot judge correctly. Of one thing we are confident and that is the necessity of some law, or sentiment if possible, that will ensure to the buyer the quality of the fruit. With prices started at a dollar per barrel, they advanced to $1.25 and $1.50 later, and when the season closed the prices fell back somewhat. At the close of the season the buyers generally claimed that there was little profit for them in the shipments they had made. So far as the growers in the State were affected, there were less buyers than usual and much fruit was not sold. MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Three meetings of the Executive Committee were held during the year, the first at Auburn. Jan. 6; the second at Winthrop, Sept. 8, and the third at Skowhegan during the annual meeting. The annual settlement was not made till Jan. 12, 1905, when the treasurer's account for the year was settled. PUBLIC MEETINGS. A spring fruit meeting was held in Grange Hall, Union, March II. The forenoon was devoted to arranging the fruit brought in, and a very good display was made from Knox and Lincoln counties. The meeting was addressed by President Gilbert, Prof. W. M. Munson and Mrs. V. P. DeCoster, and much inter- est was shown by the discussions and questions that followed. At the evening meeting excellent music was furnished by the Grange choir. The fruit interests in the locality are large, and a fine audience was in attendance. STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 7 The orchard meeting was held with Air. Chas. S. Pope of Manchester, Sept. 9. Here the State Experiment Station has been conducting more or less experiments for several years. The day was not altogether favorable, but there was an attend- ance of about 150 fruit growers, who looked over the orchard and studied the experiments with intense interest. It was alto- gether an informal affair, looking over the premises, lunching on the lawn, where hot coffee was served to all, and a dinner to the otffcers by the Popes, after which President Gilbert called the visitors together, and there were several short talks bearing on the object lessons in the orchard. Of so great importance were the lessons taught at this meeting, that it seemed advisable to give them wider publicitv by discussing them at our annual meet- ing. A vote of thanks was unanimously extended to the Popes for the cordial reception given to all. By invitation of Mr. J. O. Smith the annual meeting was held in Grange Hall, Skowhegan, Nov. 16, 17 and 18. The fruit exhibition was held in the lower hall and the meetings in the upper hall. The fruit exhibition was one of the best, made up of fruit from nearly every county in the State. There was a small exhibition of plants and flowers, and a beautiful display of chrysanthemums and roses made by Abel F. Stevens of Welles- ley, Alass. The meeting was in every way a great success, and the cordial greeting given the visitors will be long remembered by those permitted to attend. The program of the meeting bore mainh' on fruit matters and called out large and enthusiastic audiences. The introduction of the brown-tail moth and the approaching danger from the gypsy moth were ably discussed, and before the meeting was over a committee was chosen to formulate a bill for the protec- tion of the State from these and other injurious insects, and later to ask the legislature to enact the bill into a law. The commit- tee attended to the duty assigned them and without a dissenting voice the bill they prepared was passed by the legislature. The papers and discussions presented at this meeting were of a high order, and assured everyone that the fruit growers of the State are fast progressing in the best methods of orcharding. These papers and a resume of the discussions may be found in the pages following. 8 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. In closing this report the Secretary wishes to congratulate the fruit growers of the State upon the entire and hearty co-opera- tion of the State Agricultural Department, the University of Maine, the Experiment Station and the State Pomological Soci- ety. Each organization has its own peculiar work to do, but the spirit of co-operation has been constant and responsive. The successful work of the Pomological Society is to a large degree the result of this helpful and cordial aid. D. H. KNOWLTON, Secretary OFFICERS FOR 1904. President. Z. A. Gilbert, North Greene. J Ice Presidents. D. P. True, Leeds Center, C. H. George. Hebron. Secretary. D. H. Knowltox, Farmington. Treasurer. Charles S. Pope. ^Manchester. Executive Couuuittec. President and Secretary, ex-oificio ; R. H. Libbey, Newport; V. P. DeCoster, Buckfield ; C. A. Arnold, Arnold. Trustees. Androscoggin county, A. C. Day, South Turner. Aroostook county, John W. Dudley, Mapleton. Cumberland county, John W. True, New Gloucester. Franklin county, E. F. Purington, Farmington. Hancock county, E. W. Wooster, Hancock. Kennebec county, E. A. Lapham, Pittston. Knox county, Alonzo Butler, Union. Lincoln county, H. J. A. Simmons, Waldoboro. Oxford county, John A. Roberts, Norway. Penobscot county, A. A. Eastman, Dexter. Piscataquis county, W. E. Leland, East Sangerville. Sagadahoc county, A. P. Ring, Richmond Corner. Somerset county, F. E. Nowell, Fairfield. Waldo county, Fred Atwood, Winterport. Washington county, D. W. Campbell, Cherryfield. York county, C. A. Hooper, Eliot. Auditor. Dr. Geo. AL Twitchell, Augusta. Member of Experiment Station Council. Charles S. Pope, Manchester. MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY Note.— Any errors or changes of residence should be promptly reported to the Secretary. Members will also confer a favor by furnishing the Secretary with their full Christian names where initials only are given. LIFE MEMBERS. Andrews, A. Emery Gardiner Andrews, Charles E Auburn Arnold, C. A Arnoltl Atherton, Wm. P Hallowell Atkins, Charles G Bucksport Atwood, Fred Winterport Averill, David C Temple Bailey, W. G Freeport Bennoch, John E Orono Bickford, Lewis I Dixmont Center Bisbee, George E Auburn Blanchard, Mrs. E. M Lewiston Blossom, L. H Turner Center Boardman, Samuel L Bangor Briggs, John Turner Burr, John Freeport Butler, Alonzo Union Chandler, Mrs. Lucy A Freeport Chase, Henry M.,103 Federal St., Portland Corbett, Herman Farmington Crowell Mrs. Ella H Skowhegan Crowell, John H Farmington Cummings, Mrs. Anthony Auburn Dana, Woodbury S Portland Dawes, S. H Harrison DeRocher, Peter Bradentown, Fla. Dirwauger, Joseph A Portland Dunham, W. W North Paris Dyer, Milton Cape Elizabeth Emerson, Charles L South Turner Farnsworth, B. B Portland Fessenden, Francis Portland Frost, Oscar F Monmouth Gardiner, Robert H Gardiner George, C. H Hebron Gilbert, Z. A North Greene Goddard, Lewis C Woodfords Grover, Franklin D Bean Hackett, E. C West Gloucester Hall, Mrs. H. A Brewer Hanscom, John Saco Harris, William M Auburn Hoy t, Mrs. Francis Winthi'op Jackson, F. A Winthrop Keene, Charles S Turner Knowlton, D. H Farmington Lapham, E. A Pittston Lincoln, E. L Wayne Litchfield, J. H Auburn Litchfield, Mrs. L. K Winthrop Lombard, Thurston M Auburn Luce, Willis A South Union Macaulay, T. B Montreal, Can. Marston, Charles A Skowhegan McCabe, George L North Bangor McLaughlin, Henry Bangor McManus, John Brunswick Mitchell, Frederick H Turner Moody, Charles H Turner Moore, William G Monmouth Moor, F. A Waterville Morton, J. A Bethel Munson, W. M Orono Page, F. W Augusta Parsons, Howard G Turner Center Perley, Charles I Cross Hill Pope, Charles S Manchester Prince, Edwai'd M — West Farmington Pulsif er, D. W Poland Purington, E. F West Farmington Richards, John T Gardiner Ricker, A. S Turner Roak, George M Auburn Sanborn, Miss G. P Augusta Sawyer, Andrew S Cape Elizabeth Seavy, Mrs. G. M Auburn Simmons, H. J. A Waldoboro Skillings, C. W North Auburn Smith, Henry S Monmouth Snow, Mary S Bangor Starrett, L. F Warren Stetson, Henry Auburn state; pomological society. II LIFE MEMBERS — Concluded. Stanlej'. O. E Winthrop Twitchell, Geo. M Augusta Stilphen, Asbury C Gardiner Vickery, James Portland Taylor, Miss L. L.. .(Lakeside) Belgrade Thomas, William W Portland Thomas, D. S North Auburn Thurston, Edwin West Farmington Tilton, William S Boston, Mass. Townsend, Mrs. B. T Freeport True, Davis P Leeds Center True, John W New Gloucester Vickery, .John Auburn Wade, Patrick Portland Walker, Charles S Peru Walker, Elmer V Oxford Waterman. Willard H East Auburn Waugh, F. A Amherst, Mass. Wheeler, Charles E Chesterville Yeaton, Samuel F West Farmington ANNUAL MEMBERS, I902. Adams, J. W East Wilton Alden, R Winthrop Allen, E. F Columbia Falls Austin, Mrs. A. F Farmington Bradley, Mrs. Myrtle E Vienna Brown, Mrs. CO East Wilton Lincoln, E. L Wayne Mayo, E. R Manchester McAllister, Zaeheus Lovell McUleery, Robert Farmington Merchant, S. L Winthrop Niles, S. H North Jay Campbell, David Cherry field Odell, Mrs. A. J Farmington Campbell, D. W Cherryfleld Clark, Chas. H West Branch Conant, S. E Buckfleld Day, A.C South Turner DeCoster, V. P Buckfleld DeCoster, Mrs. V. P Buckfleld Dudley, John W Mapleton Dummer, Chas. G Weld Eastman, A. A Dexter Plummer, H. A Addison Purington, Mrs. E. F Farmington Ricker, H. C Buckfleld Robinson, O. M Dexter Rollins, Frank H Farmington Falls Sampson, R. S Farmington Simmons, Mrs. J. J Farmington Small, E. C Cherryfleld Stetson, C. S Alta Field, George W North Vienna Stewart, Mrs. A. M Farmington Furbush, Mrs. E. F East Wilton Greenleaf, A.C Farmington Greenwood, Emilie Farmington Hall, Chas. G Cedar (Jrove Hiscock, Mrs. W. L Farmington Holley, W. B Farmington Jenkins, Mrs. Elmira Temple Jennings, Mrs. R. B Farmington Jewell, H. D Farmington Jordan, Ira Milbridge Lftland, Will E East Sanger vlUe Libbey, R. H Newport Libbey, Mrs. R. H Newport Stewart, John Cherryfleld Tarr, Edward Mapleton Titcomb, B. M Farmington Toothaker, L. P Simpson's Corner Tuckei', Benj North Norway Tufts. Laforest Farmington Von Herff, B. . . .93 Nassau St., New York White, Edward L Bowdoinham Whittier, Phineas Farmington Falls Wilbur, Georgine Phillips Willey, A. B Cherryfleld Wiswell, M. H East Machias Withington, Mrs. Chas Buckfleld 12 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, ANNUAL ME Allen, L. L Fdlifleld Blossom, L. H Turner Center Bradley, Myrtle E — Vienna Breed, W. O Harrison Campbell, D. W Clierryfleld Day, A. C South Turner Dingley, Mrs. P. G Auburn Fairbanks, A. E Xortb Monmouth Fessenden, Francis Portland German Kali Works \ew York Goodale, G. C Winthrop Guptill, W. T Topsliam Hall, C. G 'Jedar Grove Harding, Nathaniel New Sharon Hathaway, W. S East Auburn Johnson, H. E Auburn Jones, Mrs. Barnum North Auburn Jordan, Ira Milbridge Leland, W. E East Sangerville L,ibbej', R. H Newport LibbeVi Mrs. R. H Newport MBERS, 1903. Lord, T. Merrill North Parsonsfield Mayo, E. R Manchester McAllister, Z West Lovell Merchant, S. L Winthrop Merrill, A. L North Auburn Morrill, Stephen Lewiston Nowell, F. E Fairfield Pay son, H. L Rockland Phinney, U. S Standish Roberts, J. A Norway Smith, F. W Rockland Smith, Geo. R Augusta Staples, Mrs. Arthur G Auburn Tarr, Edward Mapleton Tootliaker, L. P Sim pson's Corner Tucker, Benjamin North Norway White, Edward L Bowdoinham Whitman, H. H South Turner Whittier, Phineas Farmington Falls Willey, A. B Cherrj'field Wood side, E. G Lewiston ANNUAL ME Allen, S. L Fairfield Arnold, M. P Carmel Beal. S. H Skowhegan Benson, Mrs. G. S Skowhegan Burkett, Andrew Union Butler, L. F Madison Cole, J. E Union Daggett, E. L Union Danforth, F. G Skowhegan DeCoster, V. P Buckfleld Frost, J. H 188 Pearl St., Portland Gleason, F. A Union Greenleaf, A. C Fainiington Hall, Chas. G Cedar Grove Jepson, Albert E Norridgewock Knowlton, J. B Farmington Leland, Will E East Sangerville Lenfest, Mrs. F. H Union MBERS, 1904. Lincoln, Mrs. E. L Wayne Mayo, E. R Manchester McAllister, Z West Lovell Merchant, S. L Winthrop Nowell, F. E Fairfield Sanborn, C. E Skowhegan Sherman, Mrs. Clara E Union Shurtleff , S. G South Livermore Swan, J. A Skowhegan Tarr, Edward Mapleton Tootliaker, L. P Etna Tucker, Ben j Norway Warren, Henry P Albany, N. Y. Waterman, L. C Buckfield White, Mrs. Charles Skowhegan White, Edward L Bowdoinham White, P. C Skowliegan Wliitman, W. C. & Son South Turner TREASURER'S REPORT. Charles S. Pope, Treasurer, in account with the Maine State Pomological Society. Dr. January 1, interest on stock, Farniington National Bank $10 00 February 1, interest on deposit with Augusta Trust Company 10 67 O. A. Arnold for refrigerator 5 CO State stipend 1,000 CO April 20, Henry P. Warren, Albany, N. Y., membership fee 1 00 T. B. Macaulay,4007 Dorchester St., ftlontreal, Can., life mem. fee 10 00 •July 1, interest on stock. National Bank, Farniington 10 00 August 9, Chas. A. Marston, Skowhegan, membership fee 10 00 Octobers, J. H. Fro&t, IS.S Pearl St., Portland, membership fee 1 00 November 9, S. G. Shurtleff, So. Livermore, menibership fee 1 GO 16, Ben). Tucker, Norway, membership fee 1 00 Edward L. White, Bowdoinham, membership fee 1 00 L. S. Allen, Fairfield, membership fee 1 00 19, L. F. Butler, Madison, membership fee 1 00 M. F. Arnold, Carmel, membership fee 1 00 S. H. Beal, Skowhegaii, membership fee 1 00 Mrs. G. S. Benson, Skowliegan. membership fee 100 L. H. Blossom, Turner Center, membersliip fee 10 00 Mrs. Ella H. Crowell, Skowliegan, members