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LIBRARY 


OF  THE 


.o^-^4^^ 


J863' 


DATE  DUE                          ] 

UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
LIBRARY 


SB 
354 
M234 
1892 


TRANSACTIONS 


OF    THE 


Maine  State  Pomological  Society, 


FOR  THE   YEAR    1892. 


INCLUDING  THE  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  WINTER  MEETING 
HELD  IN  AUGUSTA,  JANUARY   17th  AND   18th,  1893. 


EDITED  BV  THE  SECBETARY, 


D.    H.    KNOWLTON. 


AUGUSTA : 

BURLEIGH    &    FLYNT,   PRINTERS  TO  THE  STATE. 
1893. 


IVlASSA£i^|_|^tT  S 
AMHERST,  m^. 


(i  3  4-,  2.  06 


N\2.  "^ 


/  ?  7  i  - 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Tkaksactioxs  for  the  Year  1892-3 3 

Report  of  the  Secretary : 3 

The  World's  Fair 6 

List  of  Maine  Apples  for 6 

Wax  Models  of  Maine  Apples 10 

Officers  for  1893 ^2 

Members  of  the  Society 13 

Treasurer's  Report 15 

Report  of  Annual  Exhibition 1" 

List  of  Premiums  awarded 21 

B[  !*iNESs  Transactions 30 

Annual  Meeting; 30 

Winter  Meeting 31 

Jtleetings  of  Executive  Committee 34 

PiBLic  Meetings 37 

During  the  Fair 39 

Union  Winter  Meetings 39 

Programme 40 

Organized    Horticulture    in    the    State  of    Maine,   by   D.   H. 

Knowltou 4'^ 

Benefit    Derived  '  by    Top-Grafting    the    Baldwin,    by   Frank 

Bowman 48 

The  Reverse  of  the  Picture,  by  S.  T.  Cannon 52 

The  Present  Status  of  the  Russian  Apple  Question,  by  W.  A. 

Taylor 56 

Cranberry  Cultuie,  by  Rev.  N.  H.  Chamberlain 61 

Spraying  Experiments  in  1892,  by  Prof.  W.  M-  Munson 67 

Agriculture  and  Horticulture  in  the  Schools 73 

Study  of  Plant  Life  in  the  Schools,  by  Miss  H.  M.  Merrill 73 

The  Apple  in  Cookery,  by  Miss  Anna  Barrows 78 

Floriculture,  bj'  Mrs.  Alonzo  Towle 86 

Bulbs  for  the  Window  Garden,  by  Mrs.  B.  T  Townseud 92 

More  Education  in  Floriculture  Necessary  to  Profitable  Enjoy- 
ment Therein,  by  Edward  H.  Goddard 9-4 

The  Growing  of  Plants,  by  Charles  S.  Walker 101 

Orchards  aud  Orchardists  in  Maine 109 

In  Memoriam  : 

Elijah  Low 115 

James  Nutting 118 


/ 


MAINE  STATE  POMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 


Transactions  for  the  Year  1892-93. 


REPORT   OF  THE   SECRETARY. 

A    YEAR    IN    POMOLOGY. 

For  various  reasons  that  I  am  unable  to  explain,  it  has  not  been 
the  custom  in  our  society  for  the  secretary  to  offer  any  formal 
report  at  the  annual  winter  meeting  As  we  are  meeting  this  year 
in  the  city  where  the  society  twenty  years  ago  held  its  first  meeting 
and  perfected  its  organization,  it  seems  bi  st  to  depai't  from  the 
custom  of  recent  years.  This  is  the  only  apology  I  have  for 
offering  this  paper,  which  aims  at  giving  a  hasty  review  of  the 
work  accomplished  in  ihe  State  the  past  year. 

It  is  gratifying  to  note  that  our  own  people  are  beginning  to 
realize  that  here  in  Maine  we  have  the  most  favorable  conditions 
for  successful  fruit  culture.  While  it  seems  to  be  a  hard  lesson  for 
the  State  as  a  whole  to  learn,  year  after  year  the  facts  of  successful 
fruit  culture  accumulate,  and  bear  tangible  evidence  to  him  who 
will  read  them  that  year  after  year  the  fruit  growers  are  making 
profitable  gains  from  their  orchards  and  small  fruits.  The  sur- 
prising thing  to  sharp  business  men  is  that  the  farmers  do  not  more 
quickly  "catch  on"  to  these  facts  and  devote  more  time  and  intel- 
ligence to  fruit  culture.  When  Florida  oranges  can  be  profitably 
grown  and  retailed  in  towns  several  hundred  miles  from  Boston  for  a 
cent  and  a  quarter  each,  there  can  be  no  doubt  about  the  profit  of 
growing  apples  in  this  State  that  will  retail  for  more  money  than 
these  oranges.  But  there  has  been  a  steady  gain  from  year  to  year 
though  it  sometimes  seems  to  be  very  slow.  So  that  there  are  now 
more  fruit-bearing  trees  in  the  State  than  ever  before. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 


For  several  years  past  the  fruit  crop  of  the  State  has  been  large, 
and  of  these  crops  the  last  one  harvested  is  probably  the  largest  and  in 
quality  ranks  as  one  of  the  best.  Of  the  extent  of  this  crop  we  will 
quote  the  following  frona  a  recent  issue  of  the  Maine  Farmer: 

"Never  before  were  so  many  apples  harvested  in  the  State  in  a 
sino-le  year.  This  conclusion  can  be  relied  on,  without  question, 
for  growers  have  actually  got  the  apples  to  prove  it.  From  all  the 
principal  fruit  growing  sections  of  the  State  the  reports  are  the 

sj^iue 'more  apples  than  ever  before  raised  in  this  vicinity.'     This 

increase  over  past  years  is  not  due  to  extraordinary  bearing.  Many 
times  before  the  trees  have  fruited  as  bountifully  as  this  year. 
While  trees  generally  bore  a  full  crop,  there  are  many  young  trees 
comino-  into  bearing  each  successive  year,  and  these  are  adding 
greatly  to  the  crop.  Maine  has  undoubtedly  doubled  her  crop  of 
winter  apples  in  the  last  ten  years,  and  if  no  killing  winter  inter- 
feres, will  double  it  again  in  the  next  decade.  This  great  crop  i& 
chiefly  winter  fruit.  It  is  of  good  size,  unusually  high  colored,  and 
very  free  from  worms.     All  in  all  it  has  been  a  great  harvest  of 

fruit." 

To  give  some  idea  of  the  extent  of  fruit  culture  in  individual 
instances  we  will  refer  to  a  few  orchards  in  the  State.  President 
Pope  from  his  orchard  this  year  harvested  nearly  2000  barrels 
of  apples,  mostly  Baldwins.  A.  C.  Carr  of  Winthrop  gathered  500 
barrels  from  his  orchard,  the  Longfellows  in  the  same  town  had  600 
barrels,  mostly  of  russets.  Phineas  Whittier  of  Chesterville  has  a 
crop  that  will  reach  2000  barrels,  largely  Baldwins.  The  Pickers 
of  Turner  had  nearly  as  many.  There  are  others  quite  as  large, 
and  hundreds  of  farmers  have  gathered  from  50  to  500  barrels  of 
apples  each,  making  in  the  aggregate  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
profitable  of  farm  crops  daring  the  season. 

Two  years  ago  a  Massachusetts  dealer  in  apples  who  cares  for 
nothing  but  the  best  fruit  for  his  own  marktt  came  to  Franklin 
county  and  bought  several  car-loads  of  apples.  The  apples  were 
of  excellent  quality,  and  this  season  he  began  to  look  around  for 
fruit.  He  came  to  the  county  for  the  second  time  and  began  first 
of  all  to  seek  fruit  of  those  of  whom  he  had  bought  two  years 
before.  AVhtn  he  found  fruit  tliat  suited  him,  he  bought  it  if  he 
could.  In  some  cases  he  paid  fifty  cents  more  than  the  local  buyers 
would  offer  because  he  wanted  the  fruit.  His  coming  annoyed 
other  buyers,  but  he  bought  what  fruit  he  needed.     The  circum- 


/ 

STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  5 

stance  suggested  two  lessons,  that  good  fruit  sold  this  year  not  only 
brings  a  good  price  but  recommends  the  fruit  of  the  locality  for 
years  after,  the  other  lesson  is  the  importance  of  producing  and 
offering  for  sale  only  the  best  fruit. 

The  markets  in  which  our  fruit  has  found  a  sale  are  also  deserving 
of  some  notice  as  well  as  the  improved  facilities  that  are  being 
afforded  for  forwarding  the  fruit.  The  crop  in  the  West  and  South- 
west was  very  light,  and  thousands  of  barrels  of  Maine  apples  have 
been  sent  to  Chicago,  Minneapolis,  Cincinnati,  Omaha,  and  to 
other  points  West  and  South.  It  may  be  well  to  note  that  on  one 
occasion  an  entire  train  loaded  with  apples  was  sent  from  the  city 
of  Portland  to  the  West.  We  regret  to  learn  that  much  complaint 
has  been  made  of  the  quality  of  these  apples,  for  it  takes  a  long 
time  in  trade  as  well  as  morals  to  overcome  the  ill  odor  that  hovers 
about  a  bad  name.  The  foreign  markets  have  been  largely  supplied 
w^ith  Canadian  fruit,  and  most  of  the  season  prices  have  ruled  low, 
so  low  in  fact  that  buyers  have  found  the  market  in  the  states  as 
good  or  better.  Several  ocean  steamers  have  provided  artificial 
ventilation  for  the  apartments  in  which  the  fruit  is  stored.  The 
fruit  stands  up  much  better  and  reaches  the  foreign  market  in  much 
better  condition.  This  suggests  that  there  may  be  more  satisfactory 
methods  of  packing  our  fruit,  especially  such  as  sell  for  the  dessert. 
When  this  class  of  fruit  is  worth  as  much  as  oranges  in  the  markets 
of  the  world  we  are  quite  confident  that  fruit  growers  should  take 
as  much  pains  in  sorting  and  packing  as  do  the  orange  growers  of 
Florida  and  California. 

As  a  pleasing  incident  in  connection  with  our  fru't  interests  it 
gives  us  pleasure  to  call  attention  to  the  exhibit  made  by  Mr.  C.  A. 
Arnold,  a  member  of  our  society  from  Arnold,  at  the  Brockton, 
Mass.,  fair  which  occurred  shortly  after  ours.  The  officers  of  that 
society  were  so  well  pleased  with  this  exhibition,  that  although  it 
was  missent  and  arrived  late,  a  liberal  gratuity  was  awarded  Mr. 
Arnold.  We  approve  of  making  exhibits  at  other  fairs  and  believe 
it  would  pay  for  our  fruit  growers  to  follow  it  up.  From  this 
particular  exhibit  we  learned  through  several  private  sources, 
satisfying  us  that  Mr.  Arnold  deserves  our  thanks  for  making  the 
exhibit. 

There  have  been  only  two  special  meetings  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. Other  meetings  were  held  the  day  following  our  winter 
meeting  at  Cornish  and  during  the  exhibition  in  Lewiston.     It  has 


6  STATE    POMOLOGICAI-    SOCIETT. 

been  the  purpose  of  the  officers  to  have  as  few  meetings  as  possible 
on  account  of  the  expense  connected  with  them.  At  the  first 
meeting  the  premium  list  was  revised.  At  the  annual  autumn 
meeting  the  accounts  of  the  fair  were  examined  and  approved,  and 
arrangements  were  entered  into  between  the  Executive  Committee 
and  the  Executive  Commissioner  of  the  World's  Columbian  Fair, 
and  in  November  the  committee  were  again  called  together  on 
account  of  matters  connected  with  the  World's  Fair. 

The  Executive  Committee  were  not  inclined  to  have  anything  to 
do  with  the  World's  Fair,  as  they  did  not  think  at  so  late  a  date  it 
would  be  possible  to  make  a  creditable  exhibition  of  Maine  fruits 
and  their  products.  Just  btfore  the  time  of  our  fair  we  were  noti- 
fied by  the  Executive  Commissioner  that  he  was  ready  to  make  a 
contract  with  our  society  to  make  a  fruit  exhibiticn  at  the  World's 
Fair,  and  that  for  that  purpose  the  sum  of  81 000  had  been  placed 
at  his  disposal.  The  matter  was  refened  to  our  annual  meeting, 
and  the  executive  officers  were  authorized  to  take  such  action  as 
their  judgment  might  dictate.  They  were  in  doubt  as  to  the  best 
course  to  pursue,  but  many  members  urged  the  officers  to  undertake 
the  collection  of  the  fruit  exhibit  and  do  all  the  means  at  the  disposal 
of  the  society  would  permit,  it  was  not,  however,  until  the  30th 
day  of  September  that  arrangements  were  finally  determined.  At 
this  time  the  committee  appointed  H.  W.  Brown  and  A.  E.  Andrews 
to  have  '-charge  of  collecting,  preserving  and  preparing  fruit  for 
the  exhibition  of  fruit  at  the  World's  Fair."  Later  having  com- 
pleted the  collection  and  placed  it  in  cold  storage,  the  Executive 
Committee  contracted  wiih  Mr.  Willis  A.  Luce  to  forward  the  fruit 
at  the  pioper  time  and  install  the  exhibition.  Some  fifty  varieties 
of  fruit  were  collected,  some  of  which  were  contributed,  and  others 
purchased.  The  following  is  the  list  of  fruits  contributed  by  the 
members  of  our  society  and  others. 

Alexander — Miss  Grace  M.  Sleeper.  Lewiston,  specimens. 

American  Beauty — Benson  W.  Brown,  East  Wilton,  " 

American  Golden  Russet — Alonzo  Butler,  L'nion,        " 

American  Golden  Pippin —     •'  "  "  " 

Bailey  Sweet — Mellen  Hayes,  Farmington,  " 

.J.  B.  Knowlton,  Strong.  " 

Baldwin  —  C.  C.  Cushman,  Farmington,  " 

I.  C.  Dudley.  Readfield,  *' 

Miss  Mary  Addle,  Readfield,  " 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 


Baldwin — Miss  H.  Del'a  Porter,  Readfield,  specimens. 
J.  E.  McCormick,  "  " 

Elina  Royal,  "  " 

J.  T.  Sherburne,  "  '» 

G.  K.  Staples,  Temple,  one  barrel. 
J.  W.  True,  New  Gloucester,  one  barrel. 
E.  K.  Whitney,  Hartford, 
Charles  S.  Pope,  Manchester,       " 
Charles  I.  Parley,  Vassalboro,     " 

B.  M.  Titcomb,  Farmington,  one  bushel. 
Ben  Davis — T.  M.  Merrill,  West  Gloucester,  one  barrel. 

H.  A.  P.  Kyes,  Industry,  specimens. 
Black  Oxford — Alonzo  Butler,  Union,  " 

Blue  Pearmain — John  Knowlton,  Farmington,  specimens. 
John  F.  Norton,  " 

Alonzo  Butler,  Union, 
Boardman — E.  F.  Purington,  West  Farmington, 
Boston  Baldwin — Miss  Emma  A.  Glidden,  Readfield, 
Canada  Red — B.  M.  Titcomb,  Farmington, 

Wm.  H.  Hunter,  Strong, 
Carver — Miss  Emma  A.  Glidden,  Readfield, 

Miss  Mary  Addle,  " 

Chenango  Strawberry — M.  P.  Tufts,  Farmington, 
Crab-apples — Miss  Minnie  A.  Dudley,  Readfield, 
Deane  (Nine  Ounce) — M.  P.  Tufts,  Farmington, 
Dudley's  Winter  (seedling)  — J.  W.  Dudley,  Castle  Hill,  specimens. 
Ewart — C.  C.  Cushman,  Farmington,  specimens. 
Fallawater  —  Alonzo  Butler,  Union,  " 

C.  M.  Knowlton,  Belfast,  one  barrel. 
J.  S.  Hoxie,  Fairfield,  " 

Fall  Harvey — John  S.  Gay,  Farmington,  specimens. 
E.  W.  Gould,  Jay, 
B.  W.  Brown,  East  Wilton, 
Fall  Pippin  — D.  H.  Knowlton,  Farmington, 
Fameuse — John  S.  Gay,  Farmington, 
Alonzo  Butler,  Union, 

C.  C.  Cushman,  Farmington, 
R.  H.  Smith,  '* 

Fameuse  Sucre — C.  C.  Cushman,  " 

Fletcher  Sweet — Alonzo  Butler,  Union, 

Furbush  Sweet  (seedling)  — A.  W.  Furbush,  E.  Wilton,  specimens. 


8 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 


Garden  Royal — E.    Lord,    Farmington,    specimens. 
Gilliflower  —  John  S .  Gay ,  ' ' 

Wm   H.  Hunter,  Strong, 
J.  E.  McCormick,  Readfleld, 
Golden  Ball — A.  F.  Hardy,  Farmington, 

Herman  Corbett,  " 
Granite  Beauty — C.  C.  Cushman,  " 
Gravenstein — Charles  S.  Pope,  Manchester, 

S.  F.  Knowlton,  Strong, 
Grimes'  Golden — Alonzo  Butler,  Union, 
Hurlbut — A.  N.  Goodridge,  Industry, 
Jewett's  Fine  Red(Nodhead) — R.  H.  Smith,  Farmington,  specimens. 

Alonzo  Butler,  Union,  " 

King  of  Tompkins — J.  F.  Norton,  Farmington,  specimens. 

Alonzo  Butler,  Union,  " 

King  Sweet — Dennis  H.  Smith,  Farmington,  " 

Lord  Russet  (seedling)  — E.  Lord,     "  " 

Mann— A.  F.  Hardy,  "  " 

Mcintosh  Red — C.  C.  Cushman,  Farmington,  specimens. 

Phineas  Whittier,  Chesterville,         " 
Mother — Alonzo  Butler,  Union,  " 

Miss  Amy  A.  Dudley,  Readfleld,  " 

Mt.  Vernon  Red — Hiram  Gilman,      "  " 

Northern  Spy — David  Dudley,  "  " 

E.  A.  Lapham,  Pittston,  one  barrel. 
Hall  C.  Burleigh,  Vassalboro,  one  barrel. 
Elina  Royal,  Readfleld,  specimens. 
Miss  H.  Delia  Porter,  Readfleld,  specimens. 
Olive  (seedling)  — Albert  W.  Furbush,  Farmington, 
Oxford — S.  A.  Dudley,  Readfleld, 
Peck's  Pleasant — S.  R.  Sweetser,  Cumberland  Cen., 
Pennock's  Red  Winter — Alonzo  Butler,  Union, 
Porter — S.  F.  Knowlton,  Strong, 
Poughkeepsie  Russet — Alonzo  Butler,  Union, 
Pound  Sweet — B.  W.  Brown,  Wdton, 
Pumpkin  Sweet — Dennis  H.  Smith,  Farmington, 
Rambo — Alonzo  Butler,  Union, 

Rhode  Island  Greenings— C.  S.  Phinney,  Standish,  one  barrel. 

David  Dudley,  Readfleld,  specimens. 
J.  T.  Sherburne,       "  " 

Roxbury  Russets — G.  W.  Waugh,  Winthrop,  one  barrel. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  9 

Rubicon — E.  Lord,  Farmington,  specimens. 
Russian  Crabs — S.  A.  Dudley,  Readfield,  specimens. 
Sally  (seedling)  —A.  W.  Furbush,  E.  Wilton,  " 
Sarah— B.  W.  Brown, 

Seedling  (unnamed) — J.  B.  Knowlton,  Strong,  " 
Seek  No  Further— Wm.  H.  Hunter,  "         " 

Specimens — M.  V.  Dudley,  Readfield  Depot,  one  barrel. 
L.  H.  Blossom,  Turner,  " 

S.  H.  Dawes,  Harrison,  "■ 

S.  C.  Harlow,  Bangor,  " 

James  Nutting,  E.  Perham,  one  box. 
W.  S.  Phinney,  Standish,  " 

J.  A.  Wellman,  Brooks,  " 

,  Waldoboro,      " 

David  Morrill,  Cornish,  one  box. 
S.  R.  Sweetser,  Cumberland  Center,  one  box. 
A.  A.  Eastman,  Dexter,  " 

S.  R.  Carleton,  Cedar  Grove,  " 

D.  J.  Br^ggs,  So.  Turner,  " 

Spitzenburg — John  F.  Norton,  Farmington,  specimens. 

S.  Frank  Knowlton,  Strong,  " 

Stark— J.  Libby,  Gray,  " 

St.  Lawrence — Alonzo  Butler,  Union,  "•' 

Twenty  Ounce — A.  B.  Jennings,  Farmington,        " 
Unnamed  Varieties — John  Knowlton,       "  " 

(^4) — Alonzo  Butler,  Union,      " 
Wagener — Benson  W.  Brown,  E.  Wilton,  " 

Wealthy— H.  L.  Foot,  Wilton,  " 

Winthrop  Greening — A.  F.  Hardy,  Farmington,    " 
Yellow  Bellflower — R.  H.  Gardiner,  Gardiner,  one  barrel. 

Miss  Emma  A.  Glidden,  Readfield,  specimens. 
Wm.  R.  Wharff,  Gardiner,  one  barrel. 
A.  E.  Andrews,  "  " 

Yellow  Favorite — Alonzo  Butler,  Union,  specimens. 
York  Russet — A.  F.  Hardy,  Farmington,         " 
Pears — S.  C.  Harlow,  Bangor,  one  box. 

M.  V.  Dudley,  Readfield,  specimens. 
Alonzo  Butler,  Union,  " 

Cranberries — A.  C.  Green) eaf,  Farmington,  one  box. 

L.  H.  Blossom,  Turner,  '' 

Barberries — Mrs.  Fitzsimmons,  Moscow  " 


10  STATE   POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY, 

The  apples  cred  ted  in  the  list  to  Alonzo  Butler,  Union,  include 
his  own  contributions  and  apples  contributed  by  R.  B.  Robbins, 
A.  J.  Young,  G.  W.  Butler,  Union;  Hon.  N.  A,  Farwell,  Rock- 
land; E.  D.  Gushee,  A.  F.  Gushee,  V  C  Kellar,  Dr.  Frank  A. 
Gushee,  Appleton. 

Experiments  were  undertaken  to  preserve  more  or  less  of  the 
fruit  so  as  to  show  in  glass,  but  they  were  not  successful  and  the 
fruit  was  destroyed. 

At  first  we  suppossed  it  was  reasonably  certain  just  what  we 
could  do,  but  as  the  collection  of  fruit  was  progressing  we  found 
there  were  many  uncertainties  about  the  whole  matter  and  some 
of  them  even  unsettled  up  to  the  last  moment.  We  expected  one 
of  our  special  committee  would  be  able  to  visit  Chicago  and  study 
the  situation,  but  in  this  we  were  disappointed  and  were  obliged  to 
await  the  slow  process  of  correspondence.  As  it  is  uncertain 
how  well  our  fruit  may  hold  up  for  the  purpose  of  exhibi- 
tion, it  was  our  intention  to  show  as  many  varieties  as  possible 
along  with  our  green  fruits,  in  some  preserving  fluid,  but  it 
took  a  long  while  to  get  the  consent  of  the  Chief  of  the  Horti- 
cultural Department  to  do  so.  It  is  the  purpose  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  to  make  the  best  showing  possible  with  the  money 
placed  at  their  disposal.  Many  fruit  growers  have  generously  con- 
tributed fruit  already  and  it  is  hoped  that  we  may  be  able  before 
the  time  comes  to  make  arrangements  for  showing  more  varieties  of 
green  fruit  to  good  advantage  next  fall.  As  soon  as  arrangements 
are  perfected  they  will  be  announced,  and  it  is  hoped  that  ihe  fruit 
growers  of  the  State  will  lend  a  hand  in  making  up  the  supply  of 
suitable  specimens  for  exhibition.  Should  another  year  be  as  good 
as  the  past  year  we  are  confident  that  we  can  make  a  good  showing 
of  single  varieties  in  competition  with  other  states.  We  believe, 
moreover,  that  the  fruit  growers  of  the  State  owe  it  to  themselves 
to  take  advantage  of  any  favorable  opportunity  that  may  offer  itself 
in  this  direction. 

Prof.  Van  Deman  has  always  been  ready  to  aid  us  in  our  work, 
and  he  and  his  assistants  have  the  best  wishes  of  our  members. 
As  illustrative  of  the  work  the  Division  of  Pomology  is  doing,  we 
were  informed  by  Mr.  Taylor  that  the  department  would  exhibit  at 
the  World's  Fair  hand-painted  models  in  wax  of  the  following 
varieties  of  apples  from  this  State  : 

Alexander,  Bailey  Sweet,  Baldwin,  Ben  Davis,  Blue  Pearmain, 
Black  Oxford,  Bullock,  Dudley's  Winter,  Fallawater,  Fameuse, 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  H 

Granite  Beauty,  Garden  Sweet,  Hubbarclston,  Mary,  Minister, 
Mcintosh  Red,  Mother,  Nodhead,  Naked  Limb  Greening,  Northern 
Spy,  Porter,  Pewawkee.  Peek's  Pleasant,  Pound  Sweet,  Rhode 
Island  Greening.  Roxbury  Russet,  St.  Lawrence,  Salina  (seedling 
from  Aroostook  county),  Stark,  Starkey,  Swaar,  Tolman  Sweet, 
Tompkins  King,  Twenty  Ounce,  Wagener,  Wealthy,  Yellow 
Bellflower. 

Reference  is  also  made  to  the  business  transactions  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  and  the  society  to  be  found  in  another  part  of  this 
volume.  Further  mention  is  also  made  of  ihe  soc  ety's  transactions 
under  the  reports  co%'eriug  the  annual  exhibition  and  the  public 
meetings.  To  the  general  reader  we  commend  the  papers  and  dis- 
cussions presented  at  our  public  meetings.  In  another  pait  of 
these  transactions  these  papers,  etc.,  in  condensed  form,  may  be 
found.  The  class  exercise,  conducted  by  Miss  Wilson,  illustrative 
of  agriculture  and  horticulture  in  the  schools,  may  be  found  in  the 
report  of  the  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture. 

In  this  conneclion  it  is  a  pleasure  to  state  that  I  am  under  obliga- 
tion in  many  ways  to  Secretary  McKeen,  who  has  shown  himself 
an  active  factor  in  promoting  the  interests  of  agriculture  in  Maine. 
At  all  times  he  has  cordially  aided  us,  and  his  assistance  has  been 
of  the  most  efficient  nature. 

D.  H.  KNOWLTON,  Secretary. 


OFFICERS  FOR  1893. 


President. 

C'lIAKLES   S.  POPE,  Manchester. 

Vice  Preside )its. 

S.  H.   DAWES,   Ilanisou. 

D.  P.  TRUE,  Leeds  Centre. 

Secretary. 

D.   II.   KNOWI/rOX,  Farniington. 

Treasurer. 

CHARLES   E.   WHEELER,  Chesterville. 

Execntive   Committee. 

The  President  and  Secretary,  ex-o:Sicio\  H.  W.  Brown,  Xewbiirg;  A.  E. 
Andrews,  Gardiner,  resigned  at  winter  meeting  and  Willis  A.  Luce,  South 
Union,  elected  to  his  place ;  J.  W.  True,  Xew  Gloucester. 

Trustees. 
Androscoggin  County,  I.  T.  Waterman,  East  Auburn. 

Aroostook  "  J.  W.  Dudley,  Castle  Hill. 

Cumberland  "  S.  R.  Sweetser,  Cumberland  Centre. 

Franklin  "  M.  C.  Ilobbs,  West  Farniington. 

Hancock  "  F.  H.  Moses.  Bucksport. 

Kennebec  "  E.  A.  Lapam,  Pittston. 

Knox  "  Alonzo  Butler,  Union. 

Lincoln  '•  H.  .7.  A.  Simmons,  Waldoboro". 

Oxford  "  C.  H.  George,  Hebron. 

Penobscot  "  C.  A.  Arnold,  Arnold. 

Piscataquis  "  A.  W.  Gilman,  Foxcroft. 

Sagadahoc  "  A.  P.  Ring,  Richmond. 

Somerset  "  James  S.  Hoxie,  North  Fairfield. 

Waldo  "  D.  B.  Johnson,  Freedom. 

Washington  "  M.  S.  Springer,  Danforth. 

York  "  John  C.  Small,  Cornish. 

3fember  of  Experiment  Station  Council. 
D.  H.  Knowlton,   Farraingtou. 
Committee  on  Nomenclature. 
Z.  A.  Gilbert,  Xorth  Greene;  D.  P.  True,  Leeds  Centre;  C.  M.Weston, 
Belgi"ade. 

Committee  on  New  Fruits. 
Willis  A.  Luce,   South  Union;  T.  M.  Merrill,  West  Gloucester;  J.  W. 
True,  New  Gloucester. 


MEMBERS   OF   THE   SOCIETY. 


XoTE.— 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 

*Atherton,  H.  X Hallowell 

Atherton,  Wm.  P Hallowell 

Atkins,  Charles  G Bucksport 

Atwood,  Fred A\interport 

A verill,  David  C Temple 

Bennoch,  John  E Orono 

Boardman,  Sainuel  L Augusta 

Briggs,  D.  .J South  Turner 

Briggs,  .John Turner 

Burr,  -John Freeport 

Butler,  Alonzo Uniqn 

*Carter,  Otis  L Etna 

Chase,  Henry  M.,  14  Quincy  St.,  Portland 

Chase,  Martin  V.  B Augusta 

*Clark,  Eliphalet Portland 

Cole,  Horatio  G Boston,  Mass 

Crafts,  Moses A  uburn 

*Crosby,  William  C Bangor 

Dana,  Woodbiiry  S Portland 

Dawes,  S.  H Harrison 

DeRocher,  Peter Bradentown,  Fla 

Dirwanger,  Joseph  A Poi-tland 

Dunham,  W.  W Xorth  Paris 

Dyer,  Milton Cape  Elizabeth 

*Emerson,  Albert Bangor 

Emerson,  Charles  L South  Turner 

Farnsworth,  B.  B Portland 

Frost,  Oscar  F Monmouth 

♦Gardiner,  Robert  H Gardiner 

Gardiner,  Robert  H Boston,  ^Fass 

George,  C.  H Hebron 

Gilbert,  Z.  A North  Greene 

*Godfery,  John  E Bangor 

Gurney,  Lemuel Hebron 

Hackett,  E.  C West  Gloucester 

Hanscom,  John Saco 

*Decease<l. 


Harlow,  S.  C Bangor 

*Harrls,  X.  C Auburn 

Harris,  X.  W Auburn 

Harris,  William  M A  ubvirn 

Harvey,  F.  L Orono 

*Hersey,  T.  C Portland 

Hobbs,  M.  Curtis West  Farmington 

Hoff ses,  Elraas Warren 

Hoxie,  James  S North  Fairfield 

Hoyt,  Mrs.  Francis Winthrop 

Ingalls,  Henry Wiscasset 

Jackson,  F.  A Winthrop 

*Jewett,  George Portland 

Johnson,  Isaac  A Auburn 

Jordan,  Francis  C Brunswick 

Kenniston,  E.  H Arnold 

Knowlton,  D.  H Farmington 

Lapham,  E.  A Pittston 

Lombard,  Tliurston  ^{ Auburn 

*Low,  Elijah Bangor 

*Low,  S.  S Bangor 

McLaughlin,  Henry Bangor 

Merrill,  T.  M West  Gloucester 

*Metcalf,  M.  J Monmouth 

Moody,  Charles  H Turner 

Moore,  William  G Monmouth 

Moor,  F.  A Waterville 

Morton,  J.  A Bethel 

Morton,  William  E Portland 

*Xoyes,  Albert Bangor 

Perley,  Chas.  I... Seward's  (Vassalboro') 

Pope,  Chas.  S Manchester 

Pulsifer,  D.  W Poland 

Purington,  E.  F West  Farmington 

*Richards,  F.  G Gardiner 

Richards,  John  T Gardiner 

*Richardson,  J.  M Gardiner 

Ricker,  A.  S Turner 


14 


STA.TE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 


LIFE  MEMBERS— Concluded. 


Roak,  George  M Auburn 

Robinson,  Henry  A Foxcrof t 

Rolf e,  Samuel Portland 

Sawyer,  Andrew  S Cape  Elizabeth 

Sawyer,  George  B Wiscasset 

*Sliaw,  Stillman  W West  Auburn 

Simmons,  H.  J.  A "Waldoboi-o' 

*Smitb,  Alfred Monmouth 

Smith,  Henry  S .' Monmouth 

Starrett,  L.  F AVarren 

Stetson,  Henry Auburn 

*Stetson,  Isaiah Bangor 

Stilphen,  Asbury  C Gardiner 

Stanley,  Charles Winthrop 

Stanley,  O.  E AVinthrop 

Staples,  G.  K Temple 

Strout,  S.  F West  Falmouth 

Strattard,  Mrs.  A.  B Monroe 

Sweetser,  S.  R Cumberland  Center 


*Taylor,  Joseph Belgrade 

Taylor,  Miss  L.  L.,  (Lakeside)  Belgrade 

Thomas,  William  W.,  Jr Portland 

Thomas,  D.  J North  Auburn 

Tilton,  William  S Boston,  Mass 

True,  Davis  P Leeds  Center 

True ,  John  W New  Gloucester 

Varney,  James  A The  Dalles  Oregon 

Vickery,  James Portland 

Vickery,  John Auburn 

Wade,  Patrick Portland 

Walker,  Charles  S Peru 

Waterman,  Willard  H East  Auburn 

*Weston,  James  C Bangor 

Wharff ,  Charles  S Gardiner 

Whitney,  Edward  K Harrison 

Woodard,  Mrs.  S.  M Gardiner 

Woodman,  George  W Portland 


ANNUAL    MEMBERS,    1892. 

Abbott,  L.  F Lewiston    Leech,  H.  T East  Monmouth 

Allen,  W.  II Augusta    Luce,  Willis  A South  Union 

Arnold,  C.  A Arnold    Mansur,  A.  M East  Dixmont 

Bailey,  W.  G Freeport    Merrow,  J.  H South  Sniithlield 

Bartlett,  B.  W East  Dixmont    Munson,  W.  M Orono 

Bickf ord,  James Carmel    Nelson,  O.  C Upper  Gloucester 

Brown,  Henry  W Newburg    Nutting,  James Perham 

Chandler,  Lucy  A Freeport  Osgood,  Mrs.  A.  J. .  .Cumberland  Centei 

Cook,  Elijah Manchester    Peacock,  J.  R Gardiner 

Doyle,  Mamie  E Woodfords    Penley,  H.  E Auburn 

Dunbar,  E.  W Damariscotta    Perkins,  C.  S Cross  Hill 

Dunton,  John Lewiston    Plaisted,  R.  C Gardiner 

Eastman,  A.  A Dexter    Pulsifer,  H.  A Auburn 

Goddard,  Calvin  S Woodfords    Sleeper,  Grace  N Lewiston 

Goddard,  Edward  H Woodfords    Sleeper,  L.  D.  N LeAviston 

Grant,  Mrs.  Benson Lewiston    Small,  John  C Cornish 

Harlow,  F.  L Turner    Townsend,  Mrs.  B.  T Freeport 

Hawkins,  M.  P Auburn    Weston,  C.  M Belgrade 

High  School Orono    Wharff,  W.  R Gardiner 

Keith,  ^V'alter  I<: Winthrop    Wlieeler,  Charles  E Chest erville 

King,  Mrs.  Louisa South  Etna    VVriglit,  Fred Bath 

Larrabee,  P.  P North  Sebago    Wright,  L.  E Woolwich 


AXNLAL    MEMBERS,    1893. 

Allen,  \V.  H Augusta    Nelson,  O.  C Upper  Gloucester 

Dudley,  J.  W Castle  Hill    Wheeler,  Joseph  B Corinth 

Munson,  W.  M Orono 


Annual    Statement   of   the    Maine   State  Pomological 
Society   for   the    Year    Ending   Dec.  31,   1892. 


RECEIPTS. 

Cash  received  State  bounty,  1891 S500  00 

State  Agricultural  Society 500  00 

Manufacturers'  National  Bank  notes 400  00 

life  members 20  00 

annual  members 43  00 

Wiscasset  Savings  Bank 19  63 

Interest  Fariuington  National  Bank  stock 12  00 

Merchants'  National  Bank  stock 6  00 

Dr.  T witchell 10  00 

Balance  due  Treasurer  Dec.  31,  1892 .30  31 


EXPENDITURES. 

Cash  paid  Secretary's  sah\ry §125  00 

clerk 12  00 

expenses 65  30 

C.S.Pope's        "          3155 

A.E.Andrews'"          24  70 

J.W.True's         "          14  00 

H.W.Brown's    " 35  60 

A.  S.  Ricker's      "          17  25 

Manufacturers' National  Banknotes 300  00 

interest  Manufacturers' National  Bank  notes 1  54 

two  sliares  jNIerchants'  National  Bank  stock  in  favor 

permanent  fund 207  60 

dividend  \Viscasset  Savings  Bank 2  37 

Manufacturers'  National  Bank  note 10  77 

Knowlton,  McLearj'  &  Co 3(>  10 

sundries 40  09 

premiums 613  50 

overpaid  by  Treasurer,  1891 3  .57 


81, .540  94 


81,540  <t4 
I 

Financial  Condition  of  Society  December  31,  1892. 

ASSETS. 

Due  from  State  Treasurer,  bounty  for  1892 8500  00 

Property  owned  by  the  Society,  estimated 1.50  00 

Permanent  fund,  Farmington  National  Bank  stock 400  00 

Merchants' National  Bank  stock 200  00 

Wiscasset  Savings  Bank ..  113  09 

81,365  09 

LIABILITIES. 

Due  Manufacturers'  National  Bank §,'5,50  00 

Treasurer  (overpaid) 30  31 

8380  31 


16  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 


1'ermanent   Fund. 

CREDIT. 

By  fees  of  109  life  members  to  December  31, 1892 SI, 090  00      $1,090  00 

DEBIT. 

To  tleposit  in  Wiscasset  Savings  Bank §11,5  09 

Farmington  National  Bank  stock 400  00 

Mercliants'  National  Bank  stock,  Gardiner 200  00 

balance  due  permanent  fnnd 374  91 


§1,090  00 


A.  S.  RICKER,  Treasurer. 
Turner,  January  2,  1893. 


Maine  State  Pomological  Society. 


Report    of    the    Twentieth    Annual    Exhibition    held    in 
Lewiston,  September  6,  7,  8  and  9,  1892. 


Our  annual  exhibition  was  held  in  Lewiston  September  6-9,  1892. 
It  was  held  in  connection  with  the  annual  show  and  fair  of  the 
Maine  State  Agricultural  Society,  and  upon  the  same  terms  as  in 
former  j^ears.  There  is,  perhaps,  only  one  criticism  that  can  be 
justly  passed  upon  this  arrangement,  and  that  is  the  early  date  at 
which  the  fair  is  held.  Many  of  our  best  fruits  cannot  be  shown  to 
advantage,  as  they  are  immature,  poorly  colored,  and  only  partially 
grown  at  that  time.  To  show  these  fruits  to  the  best  advantage 
the  exhibition  should  be  held  not  earlier  than  the  fifteenth  of 
October.  It  would  not  be  practicable  to  hold  a  separate  exhibition, 
and  we  see  no  way  in  which  the  present  plan  can  be  very  much 
improved.  There  is  one  advantage,  however,  the  earliness  of  the 
fair  secures  a  large  exhibition  of  open-air  flowers  and  plants  that 
could  not  be  shown  after  the  frosts. 

The  entire  third  floor  of  the  hall  was  given  to  our  Society,  and 
the  officers  of  the  Agricultural  Society  expressed  themselves  as 
well  pleased  with  the  manner  in  which  the  hall  was  filled.  For  the 
purpose  of  making  the  hall  as  attractive  as  possible,  the  flowers 
were  scattered  about  the  hall.  There  were  some  disadvantages  in 
this  arrangement,  as  the  specimens  could  not  be  so  readily  com- 
pared by  the  judges.  As  a  matter  of  convenience  it  may  be  better 
to  have  one  or  two  of  the  wings  devoted  to  plants  and  flowers. 
The  exhibition  of  fruit  was  very  large,  and  among  those  who  were 
present  to  examine  them  were  several  buyers  who  have  since  bought 
large  quantities  of  Maine  fruit  for  their  customers.  As  already 
2 


18  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

hinted  at,  the  late  winter  varieties  were  too  green  to  be  shown  at  their 
best,  but  the  autumn  fruits  were  large,  well  colored  and  handsome. 
One  thin<y  was  verj'  noticeable  in  the  exhibition  of  fruit  and  that  is 
the  increased  interest  in  the  winter  varieties. 

A  new  and  attractive  feature  of  the  exhibition  was  the  display 

of  plants  made  by  school  children  of  Lewiston  and  Auburn.     The 

plants  were  arranged  around  the   elevator  shaft  and  the  stairway 

leading  to  the  cupola.     By  request  of  Mr.  Gilbert,  the  secretary 

prepared  the  following  summary  of  the  window  garden  department 

for  publication  in  the  Maine  Farmer.     This  summary  is  as  follows  : 

Origin.     As  a  part  of  a  horticultural  exhibition,  or  horticultural 

work,  the  plan  originated,  we  think,  with  Mrs.  H.  L.  T.  Walcott, 

of  the  Massachusetts    Horticultural    Society.     The  committee  in 

that  society  who  have  had  special  charge  of  the  work  were  Mrs. 

Walcott  and  Mr.  M.  B.  Faxon.     It  has  outgrown  the  limits  to 

which  it  was  first  confined,  and  now  several  hundred  dollars  are 

expended  in  this  work  and    several   exhibitions   held.     Secretary 

Knowlton  of  the  Pomological  Society  first  called  the  attention  of 

the  society  to  the  subject  of  window  gardening  for  the  children. 

Interest  was  shown  in  the  matter,  which  was  finally  referred  by 

the  executive  committee  to  President  Pope  and  Secretary  Knowlton 

to  work  up  for  the  fair. 

Object.  Too  little  atteniioQ  is  given  to  the  study  of  plant  life, 
and  it  is  believed  that  the  care  of  a  plant  for  a  few  months  by  a 
child  will  teach  the  child  something  of  iuterest  about  the  plant,  and 
he  will  learn  something  about  the  plant,  how  it  grows  and  what 
makes  it  grow.  A  few  things  learned  of  one  plant  will  encourage 
the  child  to  study  other  plants,  and  in  the  end  interest  him  in  all 
that  grows  on  the  farm  or  in  the  garden. 

Meditim.  Dr.  Twitchell  gave  tlie  society  $10  to  be  used  for 
premiums.  L.  F.  Abbott  gave  for  the  same  purpose  ten  annual 
subscriptions  to  Vick's  Magazine,  and  D.  H.  Knowlton  &  Co.  for 
the  same  purpose  presented  twenty  annual  subscriptions  to  their 
school  papers.  President  Pope  and  L.  F.  Abbott  also  presented 
potted  plants,  and  other  plants  were  purchased  and  distributed  to 
the  children,  who  were  expected  to  care  for  the  plants,  etc.  To  all 
who  returned  their  plants,  free  tickets  were  furnished  by  the  Agri- 
cultural Society,  admitting  to  the  park  one  day,  Thursday.  The 
children  carried  their  plants  to  one  of  the  school  houses  at  the 
appointed  time,  received  their  tickets,  and  the  plants  were  taken  to 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  19 

the  fair  groimcls,  placed  on  exhibition,  and  later  returned  to  the 
school  building. 

Results.  About  350  plants  were  exhibited  at  the  fair.  They 
were  arranged  on  receding  shelves  on  three  sides  of  the  elevator 
shaft,  and  about  the  stairway  leading  to  the  observatory.  About 
350  out  of  450  plants  were  placed  on  exhibition  by  the  children, 
and  they  formed  a  ver}'  attractive  feature  in  the  floral  display,  and 
were  admired  by  the  public.  The  children  showed  a  deep  interest 
in  the  plants,  and  many  of  them  were  enthusiastic  over  their  suc- 
cess in  cultivating.  They  have  also  learned  some  things  they^  will 
never  forget ;  better  still,  this  care  of  the  plants  has  taught  them  to 
learn  much  of  other  plants.  The  general  plan  has  proved  so 
successful  it  is  hoped  the  society  may  be  able  to  continue  this  line 
of  work  in  the  future.  It  is  also  hoped  that  other  societies  may 
give  some  features  of  this  work  a  fair  trial  in  the  future.  Pre- 
miums were  awarded  the  best  plants  injeach  class. 

It  is  hoped  the  executive  committee  may  see  (the  way  clear  to 
continue  the  department  next  year,  but  there  is  considerable  ex- 
pense connected  with  it.  The  scope  of  the  work  should  be  ex- 
tended, so  that  the  plants  should  all  be  named  before  they  are 
given  out  to  the  children,  with  the  idea  in  view  that  the  child 
will  learn  more  about  the  plant  if  it  is  some  particular  species  than 
if  it  is  simplj'  a  geranium  without  name.  A  few  more  plants 
should  be  furnished  by  some  one,  and  the  premiums  should  be  paid 
to  the  children  at  once,  as  delay  with  them  is  a  cause  of  much 
anxiety. 

It  is  a  cause  of  regret  to  the  writer  thaf  so  little  interest  is 
shown  in  competing  for  the  botanical  premiums  offered  by  the 
society.  For  the  premium  offered  to  high  schools  there  was  only 
one  competitor,  and  that  was  the  Orouo  HighjSchool.  It  is  grati- 
fying, however,  to  note  that  this  collection  was  an  excellent  one, 
and  we  take  pleasure  in  making  a  public  recognition  of  its  merit. 
With  the  increased  interest  in  introducing  the  study  of  agriculture 
in  the  schools  we  are  disappointed  in  not  having  the  efforts  of  the 
society  in  this  direction  more  generally  appreciated. 

The  officers  have  been  aiming  at  a  closer  following  of  the  rules, 
believing  that  the  interests  of  all  will  be  best  subserved  thereb}'. 
There  are  several  rules  that  ought  to  be  changed  or  enforced, 
and  it  is  the  intention  of  the  committee  to    follow  them  this  year. 


20  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

It  is  pleasant  to  note  that  there  were  uo  complaints  made  after  the 
premiums  were  publicly  announced. 
Premiums  were  awarded  as  follows  : 

For  Apples— Collections $190  50 

Specials 41  00 

Single  plates 55  00 

$286  50 

For  Peais— Collections . .     $23  00 

Specials 10  00 

Single  plates   25  50 

58  50 

For  Plums— Collections   $10  00 

Single  plates    ...    23  00 

33  00 

For  Grapes... 5  00 

For  miscellaneous  articles 43  50 

For  Flowers /. . .    187  00 

Total  premiums  awarded . .   $613  50 


List   of   Premiums   Awarded  at   tlie    Twentieth 
Auuual  Exliibitiou.  1892. 


APPLES  — General  Collections. 

Best  general  exhibition  of  apples  grown  by  the  exhibitor  in  anj' 
part  of  the  State  :  S.  H.  Dawes,  Harrison,  $15  ;  Miss  L  L.  Tay- 
lor, Lakeside,  $10. 

Best  exhibition  of  apples  grown  by  exhibitor,  to  consist  entirely 
of  varieties  not  named  in  the  society's  premium  list :    Alonzo  But- 
ler, Union,  $5  ;  C.  H.  George,  Hebron,  $3. 

COUNTY    EXHIBITIONS. 

Best  general  exhibition  of  apples  grown  by  the  exhibitor  in 
Androscoggin  county:  John  Dunton,  Lewiston,  $8  ;  D.  J.  Briggs, 
South  Turner,  $6. 

For  same  in  Aroostook  county:  James  Nutting,  Perham,  $S. 

For  same  in  Cumberland  county:  S.  H.  Dawes,  S8  ;  J.  W. 
True,  New  Gloucester,  $6. 

For  same  in  Franklin  county:  E.  F.  Purington,  West  Faiming- 
ton,  SB  ;  M.  C.  Hobbs,  West  Farmington,  S6. 

For  same  in  Kennebec  county  :  C.  I.  Perley,  Cross  Hill,  88  ;  W. 
R.  Wharff,  Gardiner,  §6. 

For  same  in  Knox  county  :  Alonzo  Butler,  Union,  $8  ;  W^illis 
A.  Luce,  South  Union,  S6. 

For  same  from  Lincoln  county  :  E.  W.  Dunhar,  Damariscotta,  $8. 

For  same  from  Oxford  county :  C.  H.  George,  $8 ;  Lemuel 
Ourney,  Hebron,  $6. 

For  same  from  Penobscot  county  :  C.  A.  Arnold,  Arnold,  88  ; 
E.  H.  Kenniston,  Arnold,  S6. 

For  same  from  Sagadahoc  county  ;  Fred  Wright,  Bath,  $8  ;  L. 
E.  Wright,  Woolwich,  36. 


22  STATK    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

For  same  from  Somerset  county  :  J.  IS.  Hoxie,  North  Fairfield, 
$8;  J.  H.  Merrow,  South  Smithfield,  $6. 

For  same  from  Waldo  county  :  B.  W.  Bartlett,  East  Dixmont, 
$8  ;  A.  M.  Mansur,  East  Dixmont^  $6. 

CRAB    APPLES. 

For  best  collection  crab  apples  :  C.  A.  Arnold,  Si  ;  E.  H.  Ken- 
nistou,  50c. 

SPECIAL    PREMIUMS. 

For  best  dish  of  Baldwins  :    S.  H.  Dawes,  85  ;  C.  I.  Perley,  $'d. 

Gravenstein  :  A.  S.  Ricker,  Turner,  $3  ;  Chas.  S.  Pope,  Man- 
chester, $2. 

Northern  Spy:  S.  H.  Dawes,  >$o  ;  8.  R  Sweetser,  Cunaberland 
Centa-,  $2. 

Rhode  Island  Greenings  :  A.  R.  King,  North  Monmouth,  S5  ; 
Lemuel  Gurney,  S3. 

Roxbuiy  Russets:  C.  I.  Peiley,  §3;  Miss  Louisa  King,  South 
Etna,  $2. 

Tompkins  King :  H.  G.  Fairbanks,  North  Monmouth,  $3 ; 
Alonzo  Butler,  S2. 

Yellow  Belltlower :  R.  H.  Gardiner,  Gardiner,  $3  ;  James  Bick- 
ford,  C  arm  el,  $2. 

SINGLE    VARIETIES. 

Alexander:  Grace  M.  Sleeper,  Lewiston,  Si  ;  D.  S.  Thomas, 
North  Auburn,  50c. 

American  Golden  Russet:  Walter  E.  Keith,  Winthrop,  $1  ; 
A.  P.  Ring,  Richmond  Corner,  50c. 

Ben  Davis  :     S.  R.  Sweetser,  $1  ;  C.  I.  Perley,  50c. 

Deane :  Simeon  L.  Farwell,  Cumberland  Center,  $1  ;  E.  F 
Purington,  oOc. 

Duchess  of  Oldenburg  :     S.  H.  Dawes,  Si  ;  Walter  E.  Keith,  50c. 

Early  Harvest:  J.  S.  Hoxie,  $1  ;  Mrs.  A.  J.  Osgood,  Cumber- 
land Center,  50c. 

Fall  aw  ate  r  :     J.  S.  H«xie,  $1  ;  Charles  S.  Pope,  50c. 

Fall  Harvey :     C.  H.  George,  $1  ;  M.  C.  Hobbs,  50c. 

Fameuse  :     C.  H.  George,  Si  ;  E.  F.  Purington,  50c. 

Garden  Royal :     S.  H.  Dawes,  31  ;  Walter  E.  Keith,  50c. 

Hubbardston  Nonsuch:  T.  M.  Lombard,  Auburn,  $1  ;  H.  T. 
Leech,  E.  Monmouth,  50c. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  23 

Jewett's  Fine  Red:      T.  M.  Lombard,  -gl  ;  S.  H.  Dawesy  oOc. 
King  Sweeting:  E.  F.  Purington,  §1  ;  C.  I.  Peiiey,  oOc. 
Large  Yellow  Bough  :  S.  H.  Dawes,  SI  ;  Grace  3L  Sleeper,  50c. 
Mcintosh  Red  :  C.  H.  Gtorge,  Si  ;  J.  S.  Hoxie,  50c. 
Milding:  C.  I.  Perley,  81. 

Mother:  Miss  L.  L.  Tajdor,  81  ;  Mrs.  A.  J.  Osgood,  50c. 
Munson  Sweet:  E.  F.  Purington,  $1  ;  S.  R   Sweetser,  50c. 
Peck's  Pleasant:  Mrs.  A.  J.  Osgood,  -Si  ;  R.  H.  Gardiner,  50c. 
Pomme  Royale  :  Charles  S.  Pope,  Si  ;  C.  H.  George,  50c. 
Porter :  E.  F.  Purington,  81  ;  Willis  A.  Luce,  50c. 
Pound  Sweet:  S.  H.  Dawes,  81  ;  C.  I.  Perley,  50c. 
Primate:  J.  S.  Hoxie,  Si  ;  E.  F.  Purington,  50c. 
Pumpkin  Sweet:  E.  F.  Purington,  81. 

Red    Astrachan :    Herman    Corbett,    Farmingtou,    $1;     H.    T. 
Leech,  50c. 

Red  Canada:  A.  R.  King,  §1  ;  H.  G.  Fairbanks,  50c. 

Rolfe  :  S.  R.  Sweetser,  $1  ;  A.  A.  Eastman,  Dexter,  50c. 

Russell :  D.  C.  Averill,  Temple,  $1  ;  Herman  Corbett,  50c. 

Somerset :  C.  M.  Weston,  Belgrade,  81  ;  Miss  L.  L.  Taylor,  50c. 

Starkey  :  C.  I.  Perley,  $1  ;  J.  S.  Hoxie,  50c. 

Talman's  Sweet:  D.  S.  Thomas,  81  ;  E.  F.  Purington,  50c. 

•Tetofsky :  3L  C.  Hobbs,  $1  ;  S.  H.  Dawes,  50c. 

Wagener :  T.  M.  Lombard,  81  ;  J.  S.  Hoxie,  50c. 

Wealthy  :  S.  R.  Sweetser,  81  ;  J.  W.  True,  50c. 

William's  Favorite  :  Miss  L.  L.  Taylor,  $1  ;  E.  F  Purington,  50c. 

Winthrop  Greening:  A.  R.  King,  81  ;  H.  G.  Fairbanks,  50c. 

Yellow  Transparent:  M.  C.  Hobbs,  $1  ;  C.  I.  Perley,  50c. 


PEARS— General  Exhibitions. 
For  best  general  exhibition  of  pears  :     S.  H.  Dawes,  SIO  ;  C.  I. 
Perley,  88  ;  D.  P.  True,  Leeds  Center,  $5. 

SINGLE    VARIETIES. 

Clapp's  Favorite:  A.  S.  Ricker,  83  ;  D.  J.  Briggs,  $2. 

Bartlett:  S.  H.  Dawes,  S3  ;  Walter  E.  Keith,  82. 

Belle  Lucrative:  J.  S.  Hoxie,  Si  ;  Alonzo  Butler,  50c. 

Beurre  d'Anjou  :  Thurston  M.  Lombard,  $1  ;  C.  I.  Perley, JoOc. 

Beurre  Hardy  :  R.  H.  Gardiner,  Sl. 

Beurre  Superfin  :  S.  H.  Dawes,  81  ;  D.  P.  True,  50c. 


24  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

Beurre  Clavigeau :  G.    N.  Prescott,  E.   Monmouth,  $1;  CM. 
Weston,  50c. 

Beurre  Diel :  C.  M.  Weston,  $1. 

Buffum  :  D.  P.  True,  $1  ;  Walter  E.  Keith,  oOc. 

Doyenne  Boussock  :  S.  H.  Da^res,  $1  ;•  C.  I.  Perley,  50c. 

Duchesse  d'Angouleme  :  S.  H.  Dawes,  $1  ;  Alonzo  Butler,  50c. 

Eastern  Belle  :  J.  S.  Hoxie,  $1. 

Glout  Morceau  :  D.  J.  Briggs,  $1  ;  C.  I.  Perley,  50c. 

Goodale  :  C  M.  Weston,  $1  ;  C.  I.  Perley.  50c. 

Howell:  C.  I.  Perley,  $1  ;  J.  S.  Hoxle,  50c. 

Lawrence  :  I.  V.  McKinney,  Auburn,  $1  ;  Walter  E.  Keith,  50c. 

Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey:   C.  H.  George,  $1  ;  S.  H.  Dawes,  50c. 

Nickerson :     Miss  L.  L.  Taylor,  $1  ;  C.  M.  Weston,  50c. 

Seckel :     D.  J.  Briggs,  $1  ;  C.  I.  Perley,  50c. 

Sheldon  :     Walter  E.  Keith,  $1  ;  S.  H.  Dawes,  50c. 


GRAPES  — General  Exhibitions. 
For  best  collection  of  air-grown  grapes:     S.   H.  Dawes, 
Charles  S.  Perkins,  Cross  Hill,  $2. 


PLUMS— General  Exhibitions. 

For  best  general  exhibition  plums  :  S.  H.  Dawes,  $6  ;  Willis  A. 
Luce,  $4. 

SINGLE    VARIETIES. 

Bavay'sGreen'Gage  :  AVillis  A.  Luce,  81  ;  E.  F.  Purington,  850c. 
Bradshaw  :     Lemuel  Gurney,  $1  ;  T.  M.  Lombard,  50c. 
Coe's  Golden  Drop:     S.  H.  Dawes,  $1  ;  C.  H.  George,  50c. 
Green  Gage  :     D.  H.  Knowlton,  Farmington,   $1 ;  M.  P.  Haw- 
kins, Auburn,  50c. 

Prince's  Imperial  Gage  :     T.  M.  Lombard,  SI  ;  D.  P.  True,  50c. 

Red  Gage :     E.  F.  Purington,  $1  ;  R.  H.  Gardiner,  50c. 

Guii:  '>E.  W.  Dunbar,  $1  ;  M.  P.  Hawkins,  50c. 

Jefferson:     J.  W.  True,  $1. 

Lawrence  :  C.  H.  George,  $1  ;  E.  F.  Purington,  50c. 

Lombard:     J.  S.  Hoxie,  $1  ;  S.  H.  Dawes,  50c. 

Magnum  Bonum  :     John  Dunton,  $1  ;  M.  P.  Hawkins,  50c. 

McLaughlin:     R.  H.  Gardiner,  $\  ;  Willis  A.  Luce,  50c. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  25 

Moore's  Arctic:     H.  T.  Leech,  $1  ;  J.  S.  Hoxie,  50c. 

Niagara:     S.  H.  Dawes,  Si. 

Smith's  Orleans  :     T.  M.  Lombard,  61. 

Yellow  Egg :     J.  W.  True,  $1  ;  John  Duutou,  50c. 

Purple  Damson  (Gratuity)  :     J.  W.  True,  50c. 


MISCELLANEOUS   ARTICLES— Canned  Fruits, 
Preserves,  etc. 

Peaches  :     S   H.  Dawes,  $2. 

Peck  Cultivated  Cranberries :  L  T.  "Waterman  &  Son,  East 
Auburn,  $2. 

Orange  tree  in  fruit :     H.  E.  Penley,  Auburn,  Si. 

Banana:     H   E.  Penley,  Auburn,  $\  ; 

Collection  Canned  Fruits,  etc:  Mrs.  Annie  S.  Corbett,  Farm- 
ington,  $8  ;  Mrs.  Benson  Grant,  Lewiston,  So. 

Canned  Blackberries  :  Mrs.  Annie  S.  Corbett,  50c.  ;  Mrs.  Frank 
P.  Carr,  Top?ham,  25c. 

Canned  Blueberries  :  Mrs.  Frank  P.  Carr,  50c.  ;  Mrs.  Francis 
Hoyt,  Winthrop,  25c. 

Canned  Cherries  :     Mrs.  E.  F,  Purington,  WestFarmington,  50c. 

Canned  Gooseberries:  A.  A.  Eastman,  50c.;  Mrs.  Annie  S. 
Corbett,  25c. 

Canned  Peaches :  Mrs.  Benson  Grant,  50c.  ;  Mrs.  Francis 
Hoyt,  25c. 

Canned  Pears  :  M.  Lela  Averill,  Temple,  50c.  ;  Mrs.  Frank  P. 
Carr,  25c. 

Canned  Plums  :   A.  A.  Eastman,  50c.  ;  Mrs.  Benson  Grant,  25c. 

Canned  Quinces :  Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt,  50c.  ;  Mrs.  Benson  Grant, 
25c. 

Canned  Raspberries:  A.  A.  Eastman,  50c.;  Mrs.  Francis 
Hoyt,  25c. 

Canned  Strawberries:  Mrs.  Annie  S.  Corbett,  50c.  ;  Mrs.  Fran- 
cis Hoyt,  25c. 

Canned  Tomatoes  :     Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt,  50c. 

Preserved  App!es :  Mrs.  E.  F.  Purington,  50c.;  Miss  E.  B. 
Butler,  Union,  25c. 

Preserved  Currants  :  Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt,  50c.;  Mrs.  Annie  S. 
Corbett,  25c. 


26  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

Preserved  Cherries :     Miss  E.    B.   Butler,   50c.  ;   Mrs.   Francis 
Hoyt,  25c. 

Preserved  Pears:     Mrs.  D.   S.  Thomas,  North  Auburn,  50c.  ;^ 
Mrs.  Annie  S.  Corbett,  25c. 

Preserved  Plums:     Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt,   50c,;  Mrs.    Annie    S. 
Corbett,  25c. 

Preserved  Quinces :     Mrs.  Francis   Hoyt,  50c.;  Mrs.  Annie  S. 
Corbett,  25c. 

Preserved  Eaepberries :     Miss  E.  B.  Butler,  50c.  ;  Mrs.  Francis 
Hoyt,  25c. 

Preserved  Strawberries:     Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt,  50c.  ;  Mrs.  Annie 
S.  Corbett,  25c. 

Assorted  Pickles  :     Mabel  E.  Grover,  Bean's  Corner,  50c. ;  Mrs. 
Benson  Grant,  25c. 

Tomato  Catsup  :     Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt,  50c. 

Best  Collection  Apple  Jellies  :     Mrs.  Benson  Grant,  $2  ;  Mrs.  D. 
S.  Thomas,  $1. 

Apple  Jelly :     Mrs.  D.    S.  Thomas,   50c.;  Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt, 
25c. 

Cui  rant  Jelly :   Mrs.  L.  F.  Abbott,  Levviston,  50c;  Mrs.  Benson 
Grant,  25c. 

Grape  Jelly :  Miss  E.  B.  Butler,  50c  ;  Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt,  25c. 

Quince  Jelly  :  Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt,  50c.  ;  Mrs.  Benson  Grant,  25c. 

Raspberry  Jelly  :   Mrs.  Benson  Grant,  50c.  ;  Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt, 
25c. 

Rhubarb  .Jelly :  Mrs.  L.   F.   Abbott,   50c.  ;  Mrs.  Francis   Hoyt, 
25c. 

Strawberry  Jelly :  Mrs.  L.  F.  Abbott,  50c.  ;  Mrs.  Annie  S.  Cor- 
bett, 25c. 

Maple  Syrup  :  Charles  Fletcher,   Augusta,  50c.  ;  Lemuel    Gur- 
ney,  25c. 

Maple  Sugar  (gratuity)  :  Lemuel  Gurney,  50c. 


CUT   FLOWERS. 

For  best  display  of  cut  flowers  :  Mrs.  Charles  Stanley,  Wintbrop, 
$10;  Mrs.  B.  T.  Townsend,  Freeport,  $8;  Charles  S.  Walker, 
Peru,  $5. 

Exhibition  of  Roses  :  John  Burr,  Freeport,  $5. 

Dahlias :  Nellie  A.  Day,  South  Turner,  $2 ;  Mrs.  Charles 
Stanley,  $1. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  27 

Chinese  Pinks:  Mrs.  B.  T.  Townsend,  $1  ;  Mrs.  Charles  Stan- 
ley, 50c. 

Asters:  Charles  S.  Walker,  $1  ;  Mrs.  B.  T.  Townsend,  50c. 

Pansies  :  Charles  S.  Walker,  $1  ;  Mrs.  D.  H.  Knowlton,  Farra- 
ingtou,  50c. 

Zinnias:  Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt,  $1  ;  Mrs.  Charles  Stanley,  50c. 

Phlox  Drummondii :  Mrs.  Charles  Stanley,  $1;  Mrs.  G.  K. 
Staples,  Temple,  50c. 

Stocks:  Mrs.  G.  K.  Staples,  Si. 

Balsams  :  Mrs.  Charles  Stanley,  Si  ;  Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt,  50c. 

Petunias  :  Mrs.  Charles  Stanley,  Si  ;  Mrs.  D.  H.  Knowlton,  50c. 

Gladioli :  Lucy  A.  Chandler,  Freeport,  82 ;  W.  G.  Bailey, 
Freeport,  $1. 

Veibenas  :  Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt,  Si  ;  Mrs.  Charles  Stanley,  50c. 

Calendulas   (gratuity)  :     E.  C.  Pope,  Manchester,  50c. 

Vase  of  cut  flowers  (amateur)  :  Mrs.  Annie  S.  Corbett,  $3  ; 
Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt.  $2;  Mrs.  Charles  Stanley,  Si. 

Best  twelve  button-hole  bouquets:  .John  Burr,  S2  ;  Mrs.  G. 
A.  Keist,  335  Minot  avenue.  Auburn,  $1. 

Floral  design  (professional)  :  C.  S.  Goddard  &  Son,  Wood- 
fords,  S8. 

Floral  design  (amateur)  :  Mrs.  Charles  Stanley,  So  ;  Mrs.  Liz- 
zie M.  Walker,  Ptru,  S3. 

Floral  wreath  :  C.  S.  Goddard  &  Son,  82  ;  Lucy  B.  Burr,  Free- 
port,  Si. 

Dish  of  cut  flowers:  Mrs.  Francis  Hoyt,  S2  ;  Mrs.  Anthony 
Cummings,  Auburn,  $1. 

Basket  of  cut  flowers  :  C.  S.  Goddard  &  Son,  S2  ;  Mrs.  Francis 
Hoyt,  $1. 

Artistic  Exhibition  of  everlasting  flowers  :  Mrs.  Charles  Stan- 
ley, $1. 

GREENHOUSE  AND  POT  PLANTS. 

Exhibition  greenhouse  plants  :  W.  G.  Bailey,  S15  ;  C.  S.  God- 
dard &  Son,  $10  ;  John  Burr,  $8  ;  Charles  S.  Walker,  $8. 

Exhibition  pot  plants  :  Lucy  A.  Chandler,  $10  ;  Mrs.  Anthony 
Cummings,  $8. 

Ferns:     John  Burr,  $3. 

Geraniums  :     John  Burr,  S2. 

Begonias  :     W.  G.  Bailey,  $2  ;  John  Burr,  $1. 


28  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETr. 

Coleus  :  Charles  S.  Walker,  $2  ;  Joha  Burr,  $1. 

Gloxinias:  Charles  S.  Walker,  $2. 

Dracaena  :  W.  G.  Bailey,  50c;  John  Burr,  2oc. 

Double  Geranium  :  Mrs.  Anthony  Cummings,  50c. 

Single  Geranium  :  Linnie  Varnum,  Auburn,  50c.;  Lizzie  Dag- 
neau,  Auburn,  25c. 

Salvia  Splendens  :  John  Burr,  50c. 

Foliage  Begonia  :  John  Burr,  50c.  ;  W.  G.  Bailey,  25c. 

Flowering  Begonia:  W.  G.  Bailey,  50c.  ;  Charles  S.  Walker, 
25c. 

Coleus  :  S.  H.  Dawes,  50c.  ;  Charles  S.  Walker,  25c. 

Fuchsia:  W.  G.  Bailey,  50c. 

Carnation  :  Lucy  A.  Chandler,  50c.  ;  W.  G.  Bailey,  25c. 

Ever-Blooming  Rose:  Mrs.  Anthony  Cummings,  |1. 

Single  pot  plant:     S.  H.  Dawes,  $1. 

Climbing  plant  on  trellis  :  John  Burr,  $2  ;  Mrs.  Anthony  Cum- 
mings, $1. 

SPECIAL    PREMIUMS. 

Cut  wild  flowers  :     Mrs.  C.  E.  Waterman,  East  Auburn,  $3. 
Pressed  wild  flowers  :     Mamie  E.  Doyle,  Woodfords,  $2. 
Pressed  wild  flowers   collected  by  High   School :     Orono  High 
School,  Orono,  Household  Microscope,  costing  $6. 


WINDOW  GARDEN  DEPARTMENT. 

First  premiums  of  35  cents  each  were  awarded  to  the  following 
children  for  geraniums  :  Winuifred  Thompson,  Eddie  Plummer, 
Grace  Woods,  Emma  Armstrong,  Charles  Eldredge,  Irwin  Norcross, 
Harry  Goss,  Arthur  Hayes,  Lena  Jones,  Cochraine  Cartwright, 
Herbert  LaRoe,  Lola  IVIcQuestion,  Willie  Whittum,  Florence 
Whittum,  Marion  Ames,  Lewiston  ;  Ethel  Payson,  Paul  Preble, 
Percy  Haskell,  Blanche  Crafts,  Letitia  Frost,  Auburn. 

Coleus:  Louise  Bradstreet,  Earnest  Gould,  Lewiston;  Charles 
Carter,  Donald  Garcelon,  Harold  Davis,  Fred  Dormau,  Arthur 
Thompson,  Auburn. 

Fuchsias :  Carrie  Fickett,  Violet  Reynolds,  Marion  Owen, 
Lswiston. 

Vick's  Magazine  was  sent  for  one  year  as  a  premium  to  each  of 
the  following,  for  geraniums  : 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  '29 

Gracie  Mills,  Shirley  White,  Lewiston  ;  Maud  Preble,  Guy  Fitz, 
Inez  O.  Decker,  Josie  Pratt,  Auburn. 

For  Fuchsias  :  Clara  Pingree,  Hattie  Dresser,  Lewiston. 

For  Coleus :  Maggie  Doyle,  Lewiston ;  Mary  Roak,  Bertha 
Cushman,  Auburn. 

The  School  World  was  sent  for  one  year  as  a  premium  to  each 
of  the  following : 

For  geraniums :  Emma  Re'chel,  Grace  Evan?,  Ida  Epstein, 
Lillian  Soule,  Arthur  McGibbon,  Ida  Andrews,  Florence  Cash, 
William  Davis,  Lewiston;  Fannie  Harlow,  Annie  Mullary,  George 
Tainter,  Alice  Chase,  Eva  Larrabee,  Theisa  Joidan,  Ar^nie  Curtis, 
Cora  Gould,  Auburn. 

For  Fuchsias  :  Daisy  Young,  Auburn. 

For  Coleus  :  Madge  Lane,  Harold  Reynolds,  Arthur  Sherman, 
Lewiston  ;  Bertha  Woodbury,  Auburn. 

For  the  premiums  in  the  Window  Garden  Department,  $10  was 
contributed  by  Dr.  Geo.  M.  Twitchell,  Vick's  M(  gazhie  was  pre- 
sented by  L.  F.  Abbo-t,  of  the  Leitiston  Journal,  and  the  School 
Worlds,  by  D.  H.  Knowlton  &  Co.,  publishers,  Farmington. 


Business  Transactions. 


Annual  Meeting. 

September  7,  1892.  Meeting  of  the  society  lield  in  Park  Hall, 
Lewiston,  at  6.30  o'clock  P.  M.  Officers  for  1893  were  elected. 
See  page  12.  The  committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  resolution 
of  Mr.  "Wheeler,  presented  at  the  last  winter  meeting,  was  granted 
further  time,  to  report  at  winter  meeting. 

The  Secretary  read  the  following  letter : 

"Office  of  ExECuriVE  Commissioner,  ] 
Portland,  August  27,  1892.  ) 

Mr.  D.  H.  Knowlton, 

Secretary  Maine  State  Pomological  Society. 

Dear  Sir: — Our  Board  finally  appropriated  $1,000.00  to  be 
expended  upon  the  pomological  exhibit.  Of  course  some  of  the 
appropriations  may  lapse  and  thus  increase  this  one  ;  but  the  sum 
of  $1,000.00  is  all  we  are  sore  of.  I  write  to  ask  if  your  Society 
will  undertake  to  get  up  an  exhibit,  or,  in  other  words,  get  up  as 
good  an  exhibit  as  you  can  with  this  money,  and  if  so,  upon  what 
terms?  Very  truly  yours, 

C.  P.  Mattocks  (P.)" 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Briggs,  of  Turner,  the  matter  was  referred  to 
the  Executive  Committee  for  such  action  as  the  interests  of  the 
Society  may  require. 


Winter  Meeting,  January  ITtli  and  IStli,  1893. 


By  previous  arrangemeut  with  Hon.  B.  Walker  McKeeu,  Secre- 
tary of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  a  programme  for  a  union 
meeting  was  prepared  and  agreed  upon. 

Assembled  in  Meonian  Hall,  Tuesday,  January,  17th.  at  10 
o'clock,  A.  M.  The  temperature  of  the  hall  was  so  low  that  no 
meetings  were  held  there  during  the  session.  The  forenoou  meet- 
ing was  adjourned  to  Hotel  North,  and  the  other  meetings  were 
held  in  the  hall  of  Highland  Lodge,  A.  O.  U.  W.  who  kindly 
tendered  our  Society  the  use  of  the  same.  At  Hotel  North  Presi- 
dent Pope  called  the  meeting  to  order. 

In  the  absence  of  A.  S.  Ricker,  treasurer  for  1892,  his  report 
was  presented  by  Charles  E.  Wheeler,  the  treasurer-elect  for  the 
year  1893.     The  report  was  accepted. 

Secretary  Knowltou,  in  behalf  of  the  committee  "to  consider  the 
advisability  of  petitioning  the  next  [present]  Legislature  for  an 
increased  appropriation  for  the  society,"  reported  that  "in  view  of 
the  facts  presented  your  committee  are  convinced  that  it  is  advis- 
able at  this  time  to  ask  the  Legislature  to  increase  the  annual 
appropriation  for  the  society." 

The  committee  recommend  that  the  Legislature  be  asked  to 
amend  the  act  of  incorporation  by  changing  the  words  "five  hun- 
dred dollars"  to  "one  thousand  dollars,"  in  Section  2  of  said  act  of 
incorporation,  so  that  said  section,  when  amended,  shall  read  as 
follows  : 

Sec.  2.  Said  Society  shall  have  all  the  rights,  privileges,  and 
powers  conferred  by  the  laws  of  this  State  upon  county  and  local 
agricultural  societies,  and  shall  be  subject  to  all  liabilities  imposed 
by  existing  laws  upon  societies,  so  far  as  the  same  are  applicable  to 
the  objects  of  this  Society  ;  but  the  bounty  to  be  paid  by  the  State  to 
said  Society  shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars  in  one 
year. 


32  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

Voted,  That  the  committee  who  have  been  investigating  the 
advisability  of  asking  the  legislature  for  additional  appropriation 
for  the  uses  of  this  Society  be  instructed  to  present  the  matter  to 
the  legislature  in  any  form  that  their  judgment  may  determine  ;  that 
to  this  end  they  confer  with  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  and 
solicit  their  co-operation  in  gaining  the  desired  result. 

[Memorandum.  Before  leaving  Augusta  the  committee  con- 
ferred with  the  Board  of  Agriculture,  put  the  matter  in  proper 
form  and  placed  the  papers  in  the  hands  of  the  Hon.  P^dward 
Wiggin,  chairman  of  the  committee  on  agriculture,  the  Board  of 
Agriculture  co-operating  Some  time  later  a  favorable  report  was 
made  on  the  matter,  and  the  bill  was  passed  by  the  Legislature 
without  dissent,  and  was  approved  by  the  Governor.] 

The  Secretary  reported  the  resignation  of  Mr.  A.  E.  Andrews  as 
a  member  of  the  executive  committee.  It  was  voted  to  accept  the 
same  and  to  proceed  to  the  election  of  his  successor. 

Balloted  and  made  choice  of  Willis  A.  Luce  of  South  Union. 

The  president  appointed  the  following  committee  to  examine  the 
fruit  and  flowers  on  exhibition  :  Charles  E.  Wheeler,  W.  A.  Luce 
and  S.  H.  Dawes. 

The  committee  reported  as  follows  : 

"Mr.  President  : — The  committee  which  you  appointed  to  report 
on  the  exhibit  of  fruit  have  attended  to  that  duty  and  report,  with 
much  pride,  that  the  exhibit  this  year  we  believe  to  be  the  best 
for  many  years  and  it  may  be  the  best  that  has  been  shown  at  any 
of  the  winter  meetings.  We  find  in  all  100  plates,  shown  by 
thirteen  exhibitors. 

From  the  State  College  forcing- house.  Prof.  Munson  shows 
results  of  the  work  being  done  there. 

Fiom  the  orchardis's  that  are  attracting  especial  attention  is 
Dudley's  Winter,  an  apple  originating  from  a  Duchess  seed  fertil- 
ized by  a  Hyslop  Crab.  Mr.  J.  AY.  Dudley,  Castle  Hill,  is  the 
exhibitor. 

The  Stark,  which  has  brought  out  some  notes  and  letters,  of  late, 
in  the  Maine  Farmer,  is  found  on  the  tables  in  fine  form  from  the 
orchard  of  J.  Libby,  Grey. 

Three  plates  of  King  are  shown,  and  from  those  of  J.  W.  True 
and  J.  Pope  &  Son  your  committee  do  not  desire  the  honor  of 
deciding  which  is  best. 

Especial  mention  is  called  to  the  plates  of  Fallawater,  Baldwin, 
Minister,  Mother  and  Nodhead  exhibited  by  J.  Pope  &  Son. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  33 

Among  J.  W.  True's  exhibit  is  an  extra  fine  dozen  of  Beurre 
d'Anjou  pears.  The  Ben  Davis,  R.  I.  Greening  and  Nodhead 
are  line  specimens  of  their  kinds. 

D.  P.  True  shows  Lawrence  pears  and  Angers  Quince. 

Peck's  Pleasant,  from  8.  R.  Sweetser  are  extra  fine.  E.  A. 
Lapham,  Pittston,  fourteen  plates  ;  J.  Pope  &  Son,  Manchester, 
twelve  plates;  8.  R.  Sweetser,  Cumberland,  eight  plates;  J.  W. 
True,  New  Gloucester,  six  plates  ;  8.  R.  Lapham,  Pittston,  five 
plates  ;  D.  P.  True.  Leeds,  two  plates  ;  S.  R.  Clark,  China,  two 
plates  ;  James  Nutting,  Perham,  two  plates. 

Flowers  from  different  florists  do  much  to  make  the  tables  pleas- 
ing to  the  eye,  and  we  trust  that  in  the  3  ears  to  come  this  part  of 
our  work  may  receive  far  greater  attention. 

Your  executive  committee  having  in  charge  the  World's  Fair 
exhib  t  shows  some  fine  fruit -taken  from  the  collection  which  is 
now  in  cold  storage  awaiting  the  opening  of  the  Columbian  Ex- 
position." 

The  following  resolutions  were  presen'ed  and  passed  by  unani- 
mous vote  : 

Whereas.  There  exist  between  the  executive  committee  of  the 
ISLaiue  State  Pomological  Society  and  the  State  Boaid  of  Agricul- 
ture very  pleasant  relations  and  a  mutual  desire  to  help  forward 
the  kindred  work  of  every  branch  of  agriculture, 

Resoloed,  That  we  tender  to  that  Board  our  thanks  and  pledge 
them  our  support. 

Resolved^  That  we  further  extend  our  thanks  to  B.  Walker 
McKeen,  Secretary  of  the  Board,  for  his  aid  at  this  meeting. 

Resolved^  That  this  Society  hereby  acknowledges  the  courtesies 
extended  by  the  railroad  and  hotels  to  its  members,  and  to  the 
Maine  Ceutial  Railroad  extends  its  thanks  for  excursion  rates, 
and  to  Hotel  North  and  Con}^  House  for  reduced  rates  of  enter- 
tainment. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  society  be  and  hereby  are 
extended  to  the  newspapers  for  the  publication  of  our  notices  and 
for  the  excellent  reports  of  our  meetings. 

In  connection  with  ihe  making  of  awards  at  the  World's  Fair, 
after  discussion,  the  following  resolve  was  passed  : 

That  it  is  the  judgment  of  Maine  fruit  growers  that  the  late- 
keeping  fruits  grown  in  the  northern  belt  should  be  examined  near 
the  opening  of  the  Fair,  as  it  is  at  this  season  only  that  these  varie- 

3 


34  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

ties  can  be  shown  in  their  greatest  perfection,  and  that  for  this 
purpose  1802  apples  should  be  shown ;  that  the  secretary  be 
instructed  to  submit  this  resolve  to  the  consideration  of  the  proper 
authoiities. 

Meetings   of  Executive    Committee 

February  19,  1892.  The  committee  met  at  the  West  End  Hotel, 
Portland,  as  per  adjournment,  and  proceeded  to  business.  President 
Pope  in  the  chair. 

The  premium  list  for  the  next  fair  was  di-cussed  and  revised. 

The  expediency  of  giving  plants  to  children,  and  offering  premiums 
for  the  best  ones  shown  at  our  fair,  was  discussed  and  referred  to 
President  Pope  and  the  Secretary.  The  Agricultural  Society  co- 
operating, plants  were  distributed  among  the  children  of  Lewiston 
and  Auburn,  and  premiums  were  offered.  [See  list  of  premiums 
awarded.] 

April  11.  The  txeQutive  committee  authorized  and  instructed 
the  Treasurer  to  purchase  two  shares  ($100  each)  of  the  Merchants' 
National  Bank  of  Gardiner,  at  a  cost  of  8207.60.  The  same  to  be 
held  to  the  credit  of  the  permanent  fund. 

September  9,  the  committee  met  at  Lewiston.  In  the  Wo  Id's 
Fair  matter,  Messrs  Knowlton,  Andrews  and  Brown  were  author- 
ized to  confer  with  the  executive  commissioner  and  take  such  action 
as  their  judgment  might  determine. 

The  committee  chosen  for  the  purjjose  thereupon  took  the  train 
for  Portland  where,  by  previous  arrangement.  Gen.  Mattocks  was 
expected  to  meet  them.  The  executive  commissioner  did  not  appear, 
but  under  date  of  Sep'.embtr  12,  1892,  the  following  was  received 
from  Gen.  Mattocks  : 

"While  away  Friday  ni}'  clerk  tried  to  reach  me  b}^  wire  but 
was  unable  to  as  1  was  out  of  reach  of  telegraph,  although  my 
clerk  supposed  I  was  within  reach,  and  nevt  r  knew  to  the  contrary 
until  after  Friday  night,  so  I  was  in  utter  ignorance  of  your  move- 
ments as  well  as  the  telegram.  Now  I  am  exceedingly  sorry  I  failed 
to  st-e  yuu,  but  hope  we  may  have  a  favorable  response  as  to  your 
society's  taking  hold  of  the  Chicago  matter. 

Very  truly  yours, 

C.   P.   Mattocks, 
Executive  Commissioner. 

Portland,  September  30.  In  response  to  the  call  of  the  Secre- 
tary, each  member  of  tlie  executive  committee  was  present.  The 
meeting  being  called  to  order,  the  Secretary  read  the   following 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  35 

from    C.    p.    Mattocks,  Executive   Commissioner,  under   date  of 
September  22  : 

Dear  Sir:  —  I  inclose  copy  of  vote  of  our  executive  committee. 
I  am  ready  to  contract  witli  anyone  you  may  designate  to  collect 
the  pomological  exhibit,  with  the  understanding  that  we  are  to  use 
but  $1,000.  However,  if  you  think  advisable,  I  think  I  am  safe 
in  saying  that  our  Board  will  do  what  we  can.  with  your  help,  to 
get  an  additional  S500  from  the  Legislature.  Of  course,  if  I  con- 
tract with  a  man  he  will  be  supposed  to  come  under  the  reasonable 
discipline  of  an  employee,  but  we  look  to  you  to  help  guide  him  in 
his  work.  Yours  very  truly, 

C.  P.  Mattocks, 
Executive  Commissioner.. 

The  Secretary  stated  that  he  had  invited  General  Mattocks  to  be 
present  and  with  Mr.  Fassett  he  was  presented  to  the  committee. 
Aftf r  discussing  the  matter  the  following  vote  was  taken  : 

That  the  executive  committee,  in  behalf  of  the  Society,  accept 
the  proposition  of  the  executive  commissioner. 

Later  a  contract  was  executed  between  the  parties  on  the  terms 
proposed. 

Voted,  That  Messrs.  Brown  and  Andrews  of  the  committee  be 
placed  in  charge  of  collecting,  preserving  and  preparing  fruit  for 
the  exhibition  of  fruit  at  the  World's  Fair. 

At  this  meeting  the  schedule  of  premiums  awarded  was  presented 
and  the  Treasurer  was  directed  to  pay  the  same. 

The  Treasurer  was  authorized  to  make  a  loan,  not  exceeding 
four  hundred  dollars,  to  pay  premiums  and  bills,  for  a  time  not  to 
exceed  six  months. 

November  18th.  The  committee  met  at  Gardiner.  Matters  con- 
nected with  the  winter  meeting  were  discussed,  but  no  formal 
action  was  taken. 

Matters  connected  with  the  World's  Fair  were  considered  and 
action  taken  to  place  in  storage  the  fruit  collected,  &c. 

Later  the  Executive  Committee  perfected  arrangements  for  hold- 
ing the  annual  winter  meeting  in  Augusta,  January  17th  and  18th, 
1893. 


I>UBLIC    MEKTINOS 


OF    THE 


Maine  State  Pomological  Society. 


Papers,  Discussious,  Reports,  Etc. 


J^  n  n  \T.  a  1    ]M!  eeting,    Lewiston, 
September  8,  1892. 

UNION  WINTER  MEETING,  AUGUSTA, 

January  17  and  18,  1893. 


Public  Meetings. 


Thursday  evening,  September  Hth,  in  Park  Hall,  Lewistou,  a 
convention  of  Maine  fruit  growers  followed  the  election  of  officers. 
There  was  a  good  attendance,  though  the  hall  and  its  surroundings 
are  ill-adapted  to  such  gatherings.  We  have  the  idea  that  the  time 
has  now  arrived  that  the  people  of  Maine  would  be  rejoiced  to 
know  that  the  scope  of  the  agricultural  fair  was  extended  so  as  to 
return,  if  you  please,  to  the  custom  of  former  days,  so  that  along 
with  sight-seeing,  the  horse  trot  and  the  meeting  of  friends,  there 
may  be  an  intellectual  feast  in  waiting  for  those  who  maj'^  wish  to 
enjoy  it.  With  this  in  view  and  a  suitable  place  in  which  to  gather, 
meetings  for  the  discussion  of  rural  and  domestic  affairs,  would  be 
largely  attended.  A  few  popular  speakers  under  the  auspices  of 
the  various  agricultural  organizations  would  attract  to  the  ground 
many  visitors  who  now  stay  at  home.  Let  us  inroduce  among  our 
attractions  all  the  intellectual  and  moral  elements  possible.  In  this 
way  we  may  hope  to  purify  all  the  surroundings  of  the  fair,  and 
win  to  our  support  many  who  are  now  indifferent.  We  would  hold 
these  meetings  during  the  day  as  well  as  evening,  and  by  making 
them  attractive  manj'  would  be  glad  to  attend  them. 

The  general  subject  for  this  meeting  was  '-Small  Fruits  in 
Maine."  It  was  introduced  by  President  Pope  with  a  talk  on  iheir 
culture,  and  followed  up  by  Willis  A.  Luce  of  South  Union  on 
their  profits,  and  by  S.  H.  Dawes  of  Harrison,  on  the  difficulties  of 
small  fruit  culture.  Discussions  followed,  in  which  many  joined. 
Messrs.  Smiley  of  Skowhegan,  and  G.  Parker  of  Newport  furnished 
excellent  music  for  the  occasion. 

Just  twenty  years  ago  the  first  meeting  of  our  society  gathered 
in  the  city  of  Augusta,  since  which  time  more  of  our  winter  meet- 
ings have  been  held  there  ;  a.  fine  collection  of  winter  apples  were 
in  readiness  for  exhibition  by  Messrs.  Brown  and  Andrews,  the 
best  ever  shown  in  the  State  ;  it  was  determined  to   ask   the  legis- 


40  STATE    POMOLOGIOAL    SOCIETY. 

lature  for  a  larger  annual  stipend  ;  several  florists  expressed  a 
willingness  to  exhibit  plants  and  flowers.  Under  these  conditions 
it  was  determined  to  hold  our  winter  meeting  in  Augusta  Secre- 
tary McKeen  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture  was  in  full  accord,  and  a 
union  winter  meeting  was  accordingly  arranged.  The  exercises 
were  of  a  very  high  order  and  the  programme  was  well  carried  out. 
It  was  a  special  pleasure  to  our  members  to  meet  with  Mr.  W.  A. 
Taylor  of  the  agricultural  department.  Besides  the  papers  he  read 
to  us,  in  many  ways  he  was  able  to  render  a  service  to  our  society 
that  will  long  be  remembered.  Ii  will  be  seen  by  the  programme 
which  follows,  that  several  new  topics  are  presented,  among  which 
we  may  mention  "Cranberry  Culture,"  "Plant  Breeding,"  "Study 
of  Plant  Life,"  "Agriculture  and  Horticulture  in  the  Schools"  and 
"The  Apple  in  Cookery." 

PROGRAMME. 

Mr.  W.  A.  Taylor,  Assistant  Pomologist,  U.  S.  Department  of 
Agriculture,  will   be  present  during  the  meetings. 

TUESDAY    FORENOON,     10    O'CLOCK. 

Report  of  the  Treasurer. 

Report  of  Committee  to  consider  the  advisability  of  asking  the 

Legislature  to  increase  the  stipend  to  our  Societj^ 
Report  of  Secretary — A  Year  in  Pomology,  D.  H.  Knowlton. 

Anniversary  Address — The  Society's  Record  in  Pomology, 

President  Chas.  S.  Pope. 

TUESDAY    AFTERNOON,   2    o'CLOCK. 

Results  of  Spraying  Experiments  in  1892, 

Prof.  W.  M.  Munson,  Agricultural  Experiment  Station. 
Benefit  Derived  from  Top. Grafting  the  Baldwin, 

Frank  Bowman,  Eureka. 
The  Reverse  of  the  Picture,  S.  T.  Cannon,  Augusta. 

TUESDAY     EVENING,    7.30     o'CLOCK. 

More  Education  in  Floriculture  Necessary  to  Profitable  Enjoyment 

Therein,  Edward  H.  Goddard,  Woodfords. 

Floriculture,  Mrs.  Alonzo  Towle,  Freedom,  N.  H. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  V  ^    ^  4l  ' 

WEDNESDAY    FORENOON,    10    o'CLOCK. 

Flowering  and  Vegetable  Plants  for  the  Home  Garden, 

Charles  S.  Walker,  Peru. 
Cranberr}'  Culture, 

Rev.  N.  H.  Chamberlain,  Monument  Beach,  Mass. 

WEDNESDAY    AFTERNOON,   2  o'CLOCK. 

Plant  Breeding, 

Prof.  W.  H.  Munsou,  Agricultural  Experiment  Station. 
Study  of  Plant  Life  in  Schools, 

Miss  H.   M.  Merrill,  First  Lady  Assistant,  Farmington  Normal 
School. 
Agriculture  and  Horticulture  in  the  Schools, 

Practical   exercises   -svith    a   class  of   pupils    from   the    Auburn 
Schools,  conducted  by  Miss  M.  L.  Wilson,  Auburn. 

WEDNESDAY    EVENING,     7.30  o'CLOCK. 

Report  of  Committees. 
The  Apple  in  Cookery, 

Miss  Anna  Barrows,  Principal  of  the  School  of  Domestic  Sci- 
ence, Boston. 


>/. 


42  STATE    POMOLOGIOAL    SOCIETY. 


OKGAXIZED  IIOirnCULTUlJE  IX  THE  STATE  OF  :S1AIXE. 

By  1).  II.  Kxowi.TOX,  Fanniagtou. 

The  beginning  of  things  is  not  easil}'  determined.  We  may 
trace  the  development  step  by  step,  but  like  the  m'rage  on  the 
desert  waste,  the  nearer  we  approach  it  the  farther  it  seeuQs  to  be 
from  us,  and  at  the  moment  when  our  search  seems  to  be  rewarded 
the  whole  disappears  from  our  view.  This  is  as  true  in  pomology 
as  in  other  things,  and  here  in  Maine  we  are  able  to  marlt  its  pro- 
gress, while  its  origin  goes  back  into  the  dim  history  of  other 
states  and  countries.  The  early  settlers  in  the  interior  of  the 
state  were  a  hardy,  independent  class  of  people,  who  with  their 
own  hands  produced  their  homes  and  provided  them  with  all  the 
necessaries  of  life,  which  now  and  then  were  supplemented  with 
some  luxuries.  The  first  effort  was  in  the  direction  of  home  mak- 
ing and  support  of  the  family.  At  the  same  time  it  is  narrated 
that  many  of  the  early  settlers  coming  from  localities  where  fruit 
was  grown  brought  with  them  seeds  of  apples  and  pears.  Those 
were  planted  and  watched  over  with  a  sort  of  paternal  interest  until 
the  trees  bore  fruit  to  reward  the  planter  for  his  care,  and  for  long 
years  after  brought  forth  fruit  to  cheer  and  invigorate  succeeding 
generations.  Pear  and  apple  trees,  that  have  outlived  a  century's 
winters,  mark  the  site  of  many  an  early  home. 

It  may  be  asked  what  relation  these  venerable  and  sadly  neglected 
trees  have  to  the  present  condition  of  fruit  culture  in  the  state  ? 
Our  reply  is,  they  have  very  much  to  do  with  it,  for  tbey  were  the 
pioneers  of  fruit  culture,  the  spies  if  you  please  that  were  to  gain  a 
knowledge  of  the  newly  settled  land.  Their  roots  ran  deep  down 
into  the  soil,  and  their  branches  floated  in  the  breezes,  and  in  this 
way  they  soon  bore  evidence  that  soil  and  climate  were  favora- 
ble for  tbe  production  of  luscious  fruits.  They  tell  us  as  we 
behold  them  that  nature  has  provided  all  the  conditions  neces- 
sary, and  that  successful  fruit  growing  in  Maine  only  needs  the  skill- 
ful hand  of  the  intelligent  husbandman  to  yield  bountiful  returns  for 
his  labor  and  care. 

THE    FIRST    ORGANIZATION. 

The  first  attempt  at  an  organization  of  fruit  growers  in  Maine 
was  made  in  1847,  when  the  Maine  Pumological  and  Horticultural 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  43 

Society  began  its  important  career.  It  was  chartered  iu  1854  aucl 
had,  as  Mr.  Sawyer  in  his  first  report  of  the  Maine  State  Ponio- 
loo-ical  Society  says,  for  a  "time  a  direct  and  powerful  influence 
upon  the  business  of  fruit  culture  in  the  State.  Among  its  mem- 
bers, or  contributors  to  its  exhibitions,  were  many  of  the  men  whose 
names  are  recognized  as  among  the  most  successful  fruit  growers 
of  the  present  day,  and  many  equallj'^  well  known  who  have 
deceased.  In  1855  it  made  an  exhibition  at  Gardiner,  a  most  !?uc- 
cessfnl  and  varied  exhibition  of  fruits.  It  is  doubtful  if  a  better 
show  of  apples  and  pears  has  since  been  made  in  the  State,  or 
could  be  at  the  present  day." 

THE    PRESENT    ORGANIZATION. 

For  some  reason  unknown  to  the  writer  this  society  gnve  up  its 
organization  shortly  after  the  Gardiner  exhibition  referred  to,  and 
until  several  years  after  the  close  of  the  war  no  .State  organization 
specially  interested  in  pomology  existed  in  Maine.  The  State 
Board  of  Agriculture  recognizing  the  importance  to  the  State  of 
some  organization  of  the  kind,  frequently  had  the  matter  unrler 
consideration,  and  largely  through  its  influence  the  present  Fomo- 
logical  Society  was  organized  in  187;!.  The  expediency  of  attempt- 
ing to  effect  such  an  organization  was  considered  by  the  Board  at 
its  meeting  in  Skowhegan  the  year  before.  An  "Address  to  the 
Fruit  Growers  of  Maine"  was  prepared  by  a  committee,  consisting 
of  Messrs.  Z.  A.  Gilbert,  J.  A.  Varney  and  A.  L.  S'mps(  n,  and 
published  in  the  newspapers.  In  accordance  with  this  address  a 
prov  s  onal  organization  was  effected  at  a  subsequent  meeting  of 
the  Board  held  in  Wiuthrop,  January  17,  1873.  The  officers  there 
designated  were  as  follows  :  President,  Z.  A.  Gilbert ;  Vice  Presi- 
dents, Geo.  W.  Woodman  and  A.  L.  Sampson;  Secretary,  George 
B  Sawyer;  Corresponding  Secretary,  J.  C.  West  n  ;  Treasurer, 
Chas.  S.  Pope  ;  Executive  Committee  with  President  and  Secretary, 
Samuel  Rolfe,  James  A.  Varney  and  Albert  Noyes,  with  one 
trustee  from  each  county. 

Another  committee  was  chosen  to  procure  an  act  of  incorpora- 
tion of  the  Legislature,  which  was  then  in  sess'on.  The  Legisla- 
ture passed  the  act,  and  the  corporators  met  in  Augusta,  March 
27,  1873,  accepted  the  act  of  incorporation  and  elected  as  ufflcers 
of    the   soc  ety  those  proposed   at  the   Winthrop  meeting  of  the 


44  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

Board  of  Agriculture.  Thus  as  an  offspring  of  the  Board  of  Agri- 
culture, the  society  was  first  organized,  and  to  its  fostering  care 
since,  the  society  owes  all  the  gratitude  a  child  can  bestow  upon  a 
parent.  Co-laborers  in  the  great  field  of  agriculture,  they  have 
readily  walked  shoulder  to  shoulder,  and  the  work  of  each  has 
been  carried  on  with  the  most  cordial  good  wishes  of  the  other. 

EXHIBITIONS    OF    FKUIT    AND    FLOWERS. 

The  first  exhibition  of  the  society  was  held  the  following  Sep- 
tember, in  City  Hall,  Bangor.  ,The  Bangor  Horticultural  Society 
gave  the  society  a  very  cordial  welcome,  and  the  exhibition  was 
said  to  have  been  one  of  the  best  ever  held  in  the  State.  Some 
fifteen  hundred  dishes  of  fruits  were  show'n.  The  second  annual 
exhibition  was  held  in  City  Hall,  Portland,  by  invitation  of  the 
Portland  Horticultural  Society.  Among  the  pleasing  features  of 
this  exhibition  were  an  address  by  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Thomas,  Jr., 
and  a  fruil  supper  under  the  auspices  of  the  Portland  Horticultural 
Society.  The  next  year  the  society  joined  with  the  Sta'e  Agricul- 
tural Society,  and  held  an  exhibition  in  City  Hall,  Portland.  Two 
years  the  S'^ciety  held  exhibitions  with  the  Kennebec  Agricultural 
Society  in  Waterville.  Another  year  in  City  Hall,  Lewiston,  and 
since  then  in  connection  with  the  State  Agricultural  Society  in 
their  exhibition  hall  in  Lewiston.  Of  these  exhibitions  many 
pleasant  things  were  said  by  the  newspapers  of  the  state.  It 
may  also  be  said  of  these  exhibitions  that  it  has  been  the  object 
of  the  officers  to  make  them  attractive  to  visitors,  educational 
to  the  students  of  pomology,  and  helpful  to  exhibitors.  Objec- 
tionable features  have  been  rigidly  excluded  and  the  popularity 
of  the  exhibitions  has  steadily  increased.  For  several  years  the 
society  w^as  obliged  to  scale  down  its  premiums  rather  than  bur- 
den itself  with  debt,  but  in  recent  years  all  premiums  have  been 
paid  in  full. 

It  may  be  added  here  that  many  advantages  have  followed  from 
holding  joint  exhibitions,  the  mo^t  important  of  these  is  the  fact 
that  more  people  are  in  attendance  than  could  be  expected  if  we 
held  our  exhibitions  by  ourselves.  The  fairs  are  popular  and 
thousands  of  people  from  all  parts  of  the  State  are  in  attendance 
daily. 

At  the  first  exhibition  of  the  society  held  in  Bangor  and  at  sev- 
eral subsequent  exhibitions  there  were   addresses  and  discussions 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  45 

upon  fruit  topics.  The  first  address  was  by  the  Hon.  Z.  A.  Gil- 
bert, who  was  then  president  of  the  society,  and  we  think  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of^griculture  For  several  yfars  past  we  have 
held  a  public  meeting  one  evening  of  the  fair,  at  which  papers 
were  read  and  discussions  were  part  cipated  in  by  those  in  attend- 
ance. 

The  first  winter  meeting  of  the  society  was  held  in  Augusta  the 
year  following  the  organization  of  the  society.  After  calling  the 
meeting  to  order  President  Gilbert  introduced  the  Hon.  S  L. 
Goodale,  who  delivered  an  address  on  the  question,  "Shall  the 
State  of  Maine  grow  her  own  fruit  trees,  or  buy  ihem  from  other 
states?"  It  is  proper  to  remark  at  this  point  that  Mr.  Goodale  was 
a  zealous  friend  of  the  farmer,  and  in  fruit  matters  as  well  as  other 
agricultural  atfairs  was  sound  to  the  core.  Discussions  followed 
and  other  papers  were  read,  and  if  we  may  believe  the  report, 
which  was  ably  edited  by  Geo.  B.  Sawyer,  Esq.,  the  first  and 
ablest  secretary  the  society  has  ever  had,  the  meeting  was  of  a 
high  order  and  compares  favorably  with  other  meetings  held  by  the 
Society  since.  Each  year  siice  a  winter  meeting  has  been  held  in 
some  part  of  the  State.  A  two  days'  programme  (and  in  several 
instances  more  than  two  days)  has  been  carried  out,  and  in  each 
instance,  so  far  as  the  writer  knows,  the  paeetings  have  awakened 
great  interest  in  pomological  affairs.  The  programmes  at  these 
meetings  consisted  of  papers  and  discussions  upon  fruit  maters. 
Some  of  the  papers  are  of  a  high  order,  and  as  reported  in  our 
transactions  are  not  excelled  by  those  given  before  similar  organi- 
zations in  other  states. 

A  fruit  exhibit  has  formed  an  attractive  feature  of  these 
gatherings,  and  has  been  closely  examined  and  much  enjoyed. 

With  the  exception  of  two  or  three  years,  when  the  wisdom  of 
the  legislature  withheld  funds,  or  rather  denied  the  farmers  of  the 
State  the  advantages  of  an  agricultural  report,  the  transactions  of 
this  Society  have  been  carefully  edited  and  published  for  distribu- 
tion in  the  State. 

SPECIAL    MENTION. 

Of  the  original  members  of  the  Society  it  is  a  pleasure  to  mention 
some  whose  devotion  to  its  interests  has  had  very  much  to  do  with 
establi:hing  it  on  a  firm  foundation.  Its  first  president,  the  Hon.  Z. 
A.  Gilbert,  of  Greene,  was  at  the  time  of  his  election  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture.     Later  he 


46  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

became  one  of  the  most  efficient  secretaries  the  Board  ever  had, 
acting  in  that  capacity  until  the  winter  of  1892.  He  has  been  a 
firm  friend  of  the  Society,  and  in  his  official  capacity  as  secretary 
of  the  Board,  in  many  ways  reudered  valuable  assistance  to  the 
Society  and  largely  increased  its  usefulness  as  one  of  the  organized 
industries  of  the  State. 

Of  those  who  have  been  identified  with  the  Society's  work,  none, 
have  done  more  or  displayed  greater  fitness  and  ability  than  its 
first  secretary,  George  B.  Sawyer,  Esq  ,  of  Wiscasset.  The  trans- 
actions of  the  Society  during  his  official  term  are  edited  in  the  most 
scholai'ly  manner  These  volumes  show  how  carefully  he  gathered 
facts  bearing  upon  the  industry  of  fruit  culture  in  Maine.  In 
carrying  out  the  purposes  for  which  the  Society  was  organized,  he 
unde  took  many  tasks  hat  involved  great  labor  and  many  sacri- 
fices. The  fruit  growers  of  Maine  OA^e  him  a  debt  of  gratitude, 
which  we  fear  this  generation  may  never  be  able  to  recompense, 
but  the  transactions  of  the  Society  will  bear  witness  to  succeeding 
generations  of  the  excellence  of  the  service  he  rendered. 

The  Honorable  Henry  Ingalls  of  Wiscasset  was  at  one  time 
president  of  the  Society,  and  though  in  recent  years  he  has  not 
been  permitted  to  meet  with  us,  he  has  in  many  ways  activelj' 
encouraged  the  cause.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Horticultural  Com- 
mittee of  the  "World's  Fair  Managers,  and  has  actively  aided  us  in 
bringing  before  the  Board  the  importance  of  the  fruit  industry  in 
the  State. 

For  several  years  the  Hon.  Robert  H.  Gardiner  of  Gardiner  was 
president  of  the  Society.  He  was  an  active  member  and  an  exhib- 
itor of  some  of  the  finest  fruit  grown  in  the  State.  In  September, 
1886,  having  arranged  to  exhibit  his  fruit  at  the  fair  as  usual,  but 
before  his  fruit  was  in  place,  the  messenger  of  death  had  sealed  his 
lips.  A  beautiful  floral  tribute,  in  the  midst  of  his  fruit,  with 
emblems  of  mourning  told  the  visitors  of  his  death  while  his  remains 
were  being  borne  to  their  last  resting  place.  At  the  winter  meeting 
following,  the  Hon.  Samuel  L.  Boardman,  who  was  then  the  efli- 
cient  secretar}'  of  the  Society,  read  a  finely  written  memorial 
sketch, — a  graceful  and  beautiful  tribute  from  a  personal  friend. 
This  sketch  was  published  in  the  Societ^^'s  Transactions  for  that 
year. 

There  are  others  whose  names  are  deserving  of  special  mention 
in  this  connection,  but  space  and  time  will  not  permit ;  but  in  clos- 


STATE    PwMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  47 

ing  this  hastily  written  sketch  the  writer  wishes  to  call  attention  to 
the  character  of  the  early  work  done  by  the  Society.  It  was  above 
all  a  work  of  love  for  fruit  growing,  of  devotion  and  loyal  iy  to  the 
State.  By  fruit  growers  it  had  been  determined  that  conditions  in 
Maine  were  favorable  for  profitable  fiuit  culture.  The  first  o-ieat 
work  was  to  spread  this  knowledge  before  the  people.  The  medi- 
ums were  well  chosen,  for  at  the  exhibitions  of  fruit  all  could  see 
the  real  proiuct  itself  in  the  most  attractive  form,  and  real  object 
lessons  the  exhibitions  have  proved,  bearing  indisputable  evidence 
of  the  great  importance  of  the  fruit  industry  to  the  State.  The 
other  medium  was  the  public  meeting  for  teaching  the  hoic  of  profit- 
able fruit  culture.  The  papers  and  discussions  at  these  meetings 
were  reported  in  the  pre^s  and  published  in  the  Transactions  of  the 
Society,  and  thousands  have  studied  the  theory  and  science  of  fruit 
culture  from  them.  To  do  thi>  great  work  there  was  enthusiasm 
enough,  but  the  funds  were  always  short,  and  even  to  the  present 
time  the  only  comp?n  a' ion  paid  to  the  officers  has  been  a  meagre 
sala-y  to  the  secretary.  The  time  has  been  cheerfully  given,  and 
the  Society  has  only  paid  the  actual  travelling  expenses.  Nor  does 
this  tell  all  the  story,  for  often  the  early  members  when  the  Society 
was  struggl  ng  to  pa}^  its  bills  rather  than  contract  a  debt,  contrib- 
uted from  their  own  pockets.  They  preferred  this  to  having  their 
Society  burdened  in  its  youth  with  a  debt.  The  extent  of  this  aid 
we  shall  never  know,  as  there  is  no  complete  record  of  the  aid  they 
gave.  Rarely  in  the  history  of  organizations  are  there  such 
instances  of  loyalty  to  the  cause. 

The  extension  of  fruit  culture  has  been  the  chief  object  of  the 
Society.  First,  it  is  and  has  been  one  o(  the  cardinal  principles  of 
the  Society  tha:  everj'  family  that  controls  an  acre  of  land  or  even 
a  garden  spot  should  produce  an  abundance  of  fruit  for  home  use  ; 
and  second,  that  as  a  profitable  industry  none  in  the  State  paj's 
better.  That  fruit  growing  in  the  State  has  now  become  so  general 
is  a  most  gratifying  result,  but  the  end  is  not  yet,  for  there  is  now 
constant  demand  for  more  knowledge  of  fruits,  how  to  raise  them, 
how  to  sell  them,  and  last  but  by  no  means  least,  how  to  use  them 
to  increase  the  health  and  happiness  of  our  people. 

The  Pomological  Society  has  ever  been  true  to  the  principles  on 
which  it  was  organized  and  has  steadily  labored  to  promote  the 
industry  of  fruit  growing  iu_the  State.  It  has  no  rivals,  but  has 
found  friends  among  kindred  societies   in  the  State.   *This  is  espe- 


48  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

cially  true  of  the  Bangor  Horticultural  Society  and  the  Portland 
Horticultural  Society,  organizations  that  have  been  active  factors- 
in  promoting  the  culture  of  fruits  and  flowers.  Many  from  these 
organizations  have  been  identified  with  the  Pomological  Society. 
Dr.  James  C.  "Weston  of  Bangor  was  the  Society's  first  correspond- 
ing secretary.  There  were  others  from  the  Queen  City  who  bore 
an  active  part  in  the  early  history  of  the  society.  Dr.  Weston  in 
the  Transactions  for  1876  contributed  a  memorial  sketch  of  Albert 
Noyes  and  on  the  pages  immediately  following  was  a  memorial  of 
himself  written  by  Mr,  Sawyer. 


THE    BENEFIT  DEllIVED   BY   TOP-GIJAFTIXG  THE   BALDWIN. 

By  Fkaxk  Bowman,  Eureka. 

The  Baldwin  is  the  most  popular  apple  grown  in  Maine,  and  in 
commercial  importance  it  h-  ads  the  list.  The  tree  is  wonderful  for 
its  productiveness.  It  is  al?o  possessed  of  a  most  excellent  feature 
in  having  a  rich,  heavy  and  healthy  foliage,  which  insures  a  crop 
of  fruit  free  from  scab  or  rust  Although  but  half-hardy,  the 
Baldwin  tree  is  tenacious  of  life.  Its  thick  bark  protects  the  sap- 
wood  and  preserves  the  dormant  buds,  for  these  are  observed  to 
spring  out  and  form  bearing  limbs  when  there  is  but  little  woody 
substance  to  build  on,  thus  renewing  and  prolonging  the  usefulness 
of  the,  tree. 

The  weak  point  in  a  Baldwin  tree  is  its  soft  and  spongy  wood, 
the  cells  of  which  are  ruptured  and  destroyed  by  severe  freezing. 
There  are  in  consequence  very  severe  losses  in  some  localities 
among  newly  planted  Baldwin  orchards.  The  stem  or  trunk  of  the 
young  Baldwin  tree  until  of  two  or  three  inches  in  diameter  is  the 
first  part  to  show  its  half-hardy  nature. 

Now,  we  cannot  change  the  nature  of  the  tree,  but  we  can  in  a 
great  measure  remedy  this  most  discouraging  feature  simph'  by 
setting  hardier  sorts  and  changing  them  into  Baldwins  when  of  su  t- 
able  size.  Of  the  hardy  sorts  of  stock  to  graft  the  Baldwin  on  the 
seedling  is  the  best.  The  seediing  tree  at  10  or  12  years  of  age 
will  be  possessed  of  more  of  the  elements  of  substantial  durability 
than  the  grafted  tree.  The  limbs  are  more  firmly  attached  to  the 
body.     The  i'oots  have  extended  to  a  greater  distance.     This  fact 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  49 

is  abundantly  substantiated  in  our  nursery  practice  where  we  Lave 
dug  hundreds  of  large  trees,  both  grafted  and  seedling,  and  have 
observed  uniformly  a  larger  and  better  developed  root  on  the  seed- 
ling. In  explanation  of  this  phenomenon  it  should  be  remembered 
that  the  growth  of  the  roots  of  a  tree  depends  upon  the  character 
of  the  top.  Some  varieties  in  the  nursery,  all  the  conditions  of 
growth,  age,  fertility,  soil,  culture,  etc.,  being  the  same,  are  always 
found  to  have  heavier  roots  than  others,  and  it  is  observed  that  this 
peculiarity  is  due  entirely  to  the  peculiarities  in  the  growth  of  the 
tops  of  those  sorts.  If  the  whole  top  of  a  tree  be  removed  the 
roots  cease  growing  entirely.  Now,  there  is  a  dist  nctive  feature 
of  the  seedling  tree  when  young,  which  we  find  in  the  case  of  the 
apple,  plum  and  pear,  viz  :  The  production  of  thorns  and  spurs  in 
profusion.  This  feature  belongs  exclusively  to  the  young  seedling, 
and  its  use  is  to  stimulate  the  production  of  roots  in  the  youno- 
tree.  But  with  the  increased  age  and  size  of  the  tree  this  feature 
disappears,  for  it  belongs  to  a  particular  period  of  the  tree's  life, 
and  when  that  period  is  past,  the  phenomenon  cannot  be  Droduced 
again. 

A  most  convincing  illustration  of  the  superior  hardiness  and 
vigor  of  the  young  seedling  is  seen  in  nursery  rows  where  the  very 
hardiest  grafted  varieties  are  grown  side  by  side  with  seedlings.  It 
wiil  be  found  that  the  seedling  suffers  the  least  damage  from  all 
those  extremes  of  change  so  destructive  to  young  trees.  Now  out 
of  100  of  those  seedlings  when  arrived  at  maturity  not  12  will  be 
found  to  be  any  more  than  ordinarily  hardy  trees.  If,  now,  scions 
from  the  hardiest  of  those  seedlings  when  they  have  become  mature 
be  used  to  propagate  young  trees  of  their  sort,  it  will  be  found  that 
the  peculiar  features  of  the  originals  i.  e.  of  the  young  seedlings, 
have  departed,  viz.  :  The  super-abundance  of  spurs,  thorns  and 
the  corrt  sponding  development  of  roots.  The  reason  is  apparent. 
We  have  transferred  the  assimilative  organs  of  maturity  to  take 
the  place  of  those  of  youth. 

Hence  nature  has  bestowed  such  gifts  on  the  young  seedling  tree 
that  at  eight  or  ten  years  of  age  we  have  the  most  perfect  tree  as 
regards  its  makeup  for  durability  that  can  be  produced. 

The  next  important  step  is  the  grafting.  By  grafting  on  the 
trunk  or  splice-grafiing  on  the  limbs  when  small  we  are  depriving 
ourselves  of   those  gifts  that  nature  has   bestowed  on  the  seedling 


50  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETT. 

tree.  Grafting  out  on  the  limbs  will  secure  early  fruitfulness.  Seed- 
ling apple  trees  shouM  be  allowed  to  grow  until  the  limbs  are  large 
enough  to  cleft-graft  about  two  feet  from  the  body.  Of  course, 
attention  should  have  been  paid  to  shaping  the  tops  a  year  or  two 
in  advance.  Now,  good,  healthy  trees  will  stand  grafting  the 
whole  of  the  top  at  one  time,  that  is,  if  the  limbs  are  cut  one  and 
one-half  to  two  feet  from  the  trunk.  The  greater  part  of  the 
suckers  should  be  allowed  to  grow,  as  this  will  give  a  better  ripened 
scion  and  spare  the  tree  a  too  severe  shock. 

In  regard  to  bearing  fruit,  the  question  is  often  asked  :  Is  there 
not  a  loss  of  time  in  setting  the  seedling  and  top-grafting?  I 
answer  that  from  my  observation  and  experience  with  both,  the 
top-grafted  Seedling  comes  in  ahead. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  say  that  the  benefits  to  be  derived  from 
top-grafting  the  Baldwin  ara  :  With  seedlings  we  can  start  an 
orchard  at  a  great  deal  less  expense  and  we  shall  have  far  more 
and  better  trees  at  eight  or  ten  years  of  age,  which  is,  perhaps, 
about  the  best  age  to  top-graft ;  the  limbs  are  less  liable  to  split 
down,  and  the  trunk  less  defective  ;  the  roots  .are  better  developed  ; 
thus  securing  trees  possessing  more  of  the  elements  of  durability 
and  productiveness  than  are  to  be  found  in  the  root-grafted 
Baldwin. 

DISCUSSION. 

Mr.  Taylor  :  Whether  it  is  not  the  custom  to  plant  seed- 
lings as  they  come  in  the  nursery  row,  or  to  select  seedlings  that 
have  been  tested  for  hardiness?  Whether  it  is  the  custom  to 
select  seed  from  the  trees  to  start  seedlings  from? 

I  think  it  is  a  matter  of  considerable  importance  in  this  connec- 
tion, whether  you  are  breeding  hardy  stock,  or  simply  taking  seed 
from  standard  varieties,  some  of  which  may  produce  hardy  seed- 
lings and  some 'may  not,  as  they  vary  in  character  of  hardiness  as 
well  as  in  character  of  fruit. 

I  would  like  to  know  to  what  extent  Maine  orchards  are  on  seed- 
ling trunks. 

Mr.  BoWxMAN  :  I  would  say  here,  that  the  practice  in  growing 
nursery  trees  is  to  grow  one  year's  seedlings  and  take  these  trees  up 
in  the  fall  or  in  the  spring  and  put  thera  in  nursery  rows.  Those 
not  good,  inferior  in  growth  or  diseased,  we  remove  as  fast  as  we 
notice  a  tree  that  is  defective.  In  this  way  we  get  the  best  trees 
to  put  upon  the  market. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  51 

The}"  are  not  all  of  equal  hardiaess.  We  gi'ow  them  four  or  five 
years  in  the  nursery. 

Mr.  T.  :  Do  you  select  seed  from  s  edlings  known  to  be  hardy, 
or  do  you  sow  your  seed  selected  miscellaneously?  Most  of  us 
understand  just  how  they  are  raistd  in  the  nursery  from  seed 
planted,  but  is  that  seed  selected  from  trees  known  to  be  hardy,  or 
from  a  miscellaneous  lot? 

Mr.  B.  :  We  usually  select  our  seed  from  our  natural  fruit. 
We  consider  that  the  seeds  are  better  fiom  natural  fruit  than  from 
grafted  trees.  We  select  the  very  best  apples.  When  we  carry  a 
lot  of  the  best  natural  fruit  to  tha  cider  mill,  we  select  the  best  and 
smoothest  natural  fruit. 

Ques.  What  proportion  of  the  trees  come  up  to  be  of  market- 
able size  ;  how  much  are  th°y  thinned  out? 

A71S.  Perhaps  we  lose  twenty  or  twenty-five  per  cent.  They 
vary  one  year  with  another,  some  years  we  lose  more  than  others  ; 
perhaps  twenty-five  per  cent  the  average  loss  in  the  trees. 

Mr.  T.  I  would  like  to  ask  to  what  extent  has  been  tried  the 
practice  of  double  working  of  the  same  varieties,  as  those  that  will 
not  stand  winters  always,  on  trees  that  have  been  grown  for  ihe 
purpose  of  forming  a  hardy  trunk  on  a  seedling  root?  That  prac- 
tice has  become  quite  prevalent  in  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota.  The 
stock  they  ai-e  using  is  the  Siberian  and  Virginia  crab  ;  they  unite 
readily  with  the  apple.  That  has  become  a  valuable  stock.  They 
take  common  nursery  seedlings  grown  from  their  hardiest  varieties 
of  apples  and  root  graft  with  the  Virginia  or  Concord  crab  and 
grow  them  vigorously  three  or  four  years,  then  set  them  out  and 
top-graft  immediately.  It  has  been  practiced  in  Western  Minne- 
sota and  is  apparently  successful.  This  is  double  working  to 
secure  a  uniform  plant ;  establish  hardy  trunks.  It  sends  out  roots 
above  the  union  of  the  scions.  1  would  like  to  know  if  that  has 
been  tried  in  Maine? 

Ans.  We  have  never  made  a  practice  of  doing  that  enough  to 
make  a  test  of  the  matter.  I  do  not  see  any  benefit  in  doing  so, 
because  I  think  the  seedling  tree  is  better  than  any  grafted  tree  for 
the  first  two  years,  and  the  root  is  improved.  The  top  of  the  tree 
affects  the  root,  but  the  root  does  not  affect  the  top. 

Mr.  T.  :  It  secures  a  uniformity  of  growth  of  the  orchard.  The 
Concord  trunk  has  been  produced  by  using  the  root  to  start  with, 
then  grafting  the  trunk  so  it  sends  out  roots  from  the  scion  and 


52  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

secures  a  uniform  s'em.     A  hardy  sredling  stalk  is  -without  doubt 
the  best  stalk  that  can  be  secured. 

Mr.  Pope:  I  will  say  that  we  have  not  tested  any  length  of 
time  this  double  working.  It  has  been  our  practice  to  set  seed- 
lings until  within  a  few  years.  We  find,  no  matter  where  we  get 
them,  they  are  not  uniform.  Frequently  ihe  tree  does  not  have 
that  vigor  it  should.  We  always  remove  it  and  put  in  a  better 
one.  A  few  years  ago  we  tried  in  place  of  setting  seedlings  to  set 
a  good  hardy  tree  and  top  work  it.  The  trees  were  set  in  rows  ; 
one  row  of  Taliman's  and  one  row  of  Bellflowers  and  one  row  of 
seedlings.  Every  Bellflower  looks  nice ;  grand,  good,  vigorous 
trees.  In  the  se^  dling  row  th^y  were  beautiful  trees  ;  the  next 
one  has  no  growth  and  we  are  obliged  to  put  in  another  row. 
We  have  uniformity  with  the  Bellflowers.  The  Talbnan  will  stand 
our  winters, — we  are  not  sure  of  it  in  the  seedlings. 


THE   T.EYEKSE    OF   THE    PICTUEE. 
By  S.  T.  Cannon,  August;!. 

A  very  incorrect  or  at  least  superficial  idea  of  many  is,  that  tree 
agents  are  a  lazy,  indolent  set,  uneducated  and  unrefined,  with 
plenty  of  brass  and  some  conceit  in  their  makeup,  who  cannot  earn 
a  living  at  home,  and  so  make  it  in  their  way  to  travel  over  the 
country  invading  the  peaceful  habitations  of  the  would-be-let-alone 
kind,  much  to  their  annoyance  and  discomfort,  living  an  easy  life 
with  a  soft  job  in  their  possession.  I  am  like  the  minister  who  was 
caught  in  Portland  one  Sunday,  with  only  one  sermon  with  him, 
and  made  to  preach  to  a  then,  for  that  day,  pastorless  congregation. 
Of  course  he  had  to  preach  the  only  sermon  he  had,- which  gave 
them  a  real  lively  ''dressing  down,"  as  we  would  say,  and  then  at 
the  conclusion  added  that  the  sermon  was  not  written  for  tliat 
congregation,  but  for  '  the  miserable  sinners  out  to  Saccarrappa,"and 
so  begged  their  excuses.  So  I  beg  your  excuse  to-day,  as  I  have 
but  this  one  paper  to  reud,  and  I  do  not  want  to  spoil  your  pro- 
gramme. 

Those  pi^rsons  to  which  allusion  has  been  made  are  full  or  their 
stories  adverse  io  the  tree  solicitor. 

JNIr.  A.  ordered  a  Clingstone  peach  because  he  thought  it  would 
be  more  durable  in  his  family,  than  a  Freestone,  and  when  it  came 


STATE    P05IOLOGICAL    fcOCIETY.  53 

to  bear  it  bore  Rhode  Island  Greenings.  Mr.  B.,  another,  ordered  a 
grape  vine  that  was  to  be  three  feet  and  tbirty-six  inches  long  when 
delivtred.  And  when  it  reached  him  only  the  root  and  two  shoots 
came,  with  about  eight  or  ten  inches  of  wood  on  each,  much  to  his 
disappointment.  Mr.  C.  ordered  trees  that  were  to  be  every  way 
superior  to  those  growing  in  his  neighbor's  yard,  with  roots  by  the 
bushel.  When  ihey  came  th  re  were  roots,  but  to  use  his  own 
language,  there  were  no  '-vipers"  on  them,  and  he  believed  that  all 
tree  agents  were  cheats  and  swindlers.  Another  man,  who  lives  in 
Massachusetts,  ordered  some  shrubs  that  were  to  be  delivered  early 
in  October,  and  when  they  came,  it  was  the  first  of  November,  when, 
in  his  opinion,  everything  in  Massachusetts  is  frozen  solid,  except 
the  cheek  of  the  tree  drummer,  which  is  always  intact. 

There  are  between  4,000  and  5,000  nurseries  in  the  Uuited 
States,  giving  employment  to  some  fifty  thousand  persons, 
and  Laving  an  invested  capital  of  over  fift}^  millions  of  dollars. 
The  area  covered  by  these  nurseries  is  said  to  be  something  like 
173,000  acres.  This  business  has  within  the  last  tenor  fiftten 
years  grown  enormously,  and  is  now  one  of  the  largest  euterpiises 
in  the  country,  with  every  indication  of  still  greater  expansion  and 
ramification  in  years  to  come.  The  reasons  for  this  conclusion  are 
apparent  to  any  who  will  take  the  pains  fo  look  into  its  history,  and 
the  causes  that  have  made  the  industry  whit  it  is  to-day.  The 
large,  unoccupied  territory  in  the  West,  the  increased  demand  for 
fruit,  the  growmg  interest  in  out-door  adornment,  with  the  fact  that 
much  of  the  nursery  stock  that  is  sold  never  matures,  are  some  of 
the  reasons  adduced  for  its  still  greater  future  growth. 

But  as  to  present  results, — those  who  own  homes,  whether  modest 
ones  in  villages,  large  farms  in  the  country,  or  attractive  estates  in 
town  or  city,  have  become  deeply  interested  in  the  cultivation  of 
trees  and  plants, — fruit  trees  taking  a  large  share  of  their  atten- 
tion. That  this  is  valuable  to  any  state  or  territory,  goes  without 
the  saying.  Thousands  of  farms  to-day  depend  upon  their  orchards 
for  their  principal  year's  income,  where  ten  or  fifteen  3'ears  ago 
the  yield  was  scarcely  sufficient  for  home  uses.  Take  a  drive 
through  town  or  country — beautiful  lawns  with  shrubs  and  roses 
meet  your  gaze.  You  notice  here  and  there  the  large  flowering 
clematis,  in  various  shades  of  color,  climbing  the  trellis  of  the 
veranda,  or  covering  some  bare  fence  or  wall, — charming  in  i:s 
masses  of  flowers.     Then  aiaiu  the  lawn  will  be  smooth  and  vacant 


54  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETl'. 

in  the  center  (as  it  should  be),  with  a  few  blooming  shrubs  in  the 
corners,  and  perhaps  a  border  by  the  roadway  or  front  walk.  And 
although  there  are  a  good  many  yards  still  needing  combing  out, 
great  progress  has  been  made  in  this  direction.  Men,  as  well  as 
women  are  sensibly  taking  pride  in  matters  of  horticulture,  as  well 
as  pomology.  Pear  and  plum  trees  are  noticed  in  gardens  once 
barren  of  these  necessities,  and  small  frui's  demanding  more  than 
your  passing  notice. 

Now,  while  it  is  admitted  this  has  not  all  come  about  through 
travelling  salesmen,  it  has  very  largely.  Were  it  not  for  the  means 
thus  used,  the  nursery  interests  would  be  nothing  like  what  they 
are  now.  Business  in  these  days  is  largely  done  through  repre- 
sentatives of  the  business.  Thus,  the  dry  goods  house,  the  gro- 
cerv  and  the  hardware  trade,  and  other  mercantile  branches,  have 
each  found  that  their  interests  a-e  better  served,  and  their  trade 
held  more  securely,  by  sending  out  their  commercial  drummers, — 
and  nurserymen  do  the  same  way.  Why  not?  The  only  differ- 
ence is,  while  the  goods  of  the  former  reaches  the  consumer  through 
the  retail  trade,  the  latter  deals  directly  with  the  planter.  It  is 
true,  errors  are  sometimes  made  So  ihere  are  in  all  kinds  of 
business,  and  there  is  no  reason  why  a  man  who  buys  fifty  apple 
trees  of  a  tree  agent  stands  any  greater  chance  of  loss  by  errors, 
than  the  man  who  buys  fifty  pounds  of  sugar,  or  a  ready-made 
overcoat. 

Tree  agents  come  from  all  the  walks  of  life.  A  large  per  cent 
are  farmers  and  farmers'  sous.  Then  there  are  mechanics,  teachers, 
students,  and  so  on.  And  for  the  most  part  they  are  men  not  only 
of  respectability,  but  men  of  education.  They  are  not  dudes,  it  is 
true,  but  men  of  sense  and  good  judgment, — men  you  and  I  would 
like  as  neighbor.-'. 

Follow  such  an  agent  over  his  rounds,  through  cold  or  heat,  rain 
or  shine,  as  the  case  may  be,  meeting  with  all  the  rebuffs  named, 
and  many  more  during  h  s  year's  toil.  When  his  day's  work  is 
done  he  is  ready  for  rest,  but  often  it  is  nine  o'clock  before  his 
day's  work  is  done.  You  will  agree  with  me  that  he  has  earned  his 
money. 

Friends,  where  would  many  of  the  profitable  fruit  orchards,  the 
gardens  of  small  fruit,  the  outside  ornamentations  of  homes  be 
to-day,  had  the  much  distrusted  and  ever  under-rated  tree  man  never 
called  at  your  door  ? 


STATE    POIIOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  55 

After  all  that  has  been  said,  please  do  not  misunderstand  me.  I 
do  not  say  that  all  tree  agents  are  what  they  should  be,  but  I  do 
say  that  a  good,  high-minded  one,  who  is  clear-headed  and  who 
understands  his  business,  is  a  misswiiary  in  his  line  of  labor,  and 
ever}'^  fruit-grower  should  encourage  him. 

Did  the  buyer  study  his  own  wants  closer,  learn  to  discriminate 
between  what  is  real  and  true  from  what  is  false  and  harmful, 
encourage  the  earnest  and  honest  endeavor  wherever  found,  it  would 
be  very  helpful  in  each  direction.  The  doctrine  of  brotherly  love 
is  working  its  way  along,  but  the  country  is  still  in  need  of  it  in 
many  places.  The  doctrine  of  universal  chirit}'  has  not  yet 
extended  to  all  the  recesses  of  our  nature  s.  Let  us  not  forget  that 
in  humanity,  all  are  friends,  all  are  brothers. 

As  has  before  bee  i  stated,  men  in  buying  trees,  do  not  always 
get  what  they  order,  and  oftener  do  not  take  care  of  what  they  do 
get.  Why,  I  have  known  bundl  s  of  trees  after  proper  and  accepted 
delivery,  lay  a  week  in  the  bundle  unattended  to,  aud  then  the 
owner  complained  of  the  stock  Many,  ignorant  themselves  of  the 
care  aud  culture  of  trees  do  the  best  they  can,  however,  sometimes 
even  employing  the  services  of  a  professional  gardener,  who  like 
some  religious  sectarian,  professes  too  much, — and  this  gardener 
goes  aud  puts  unsuitable  dressing  around  the  roots  of  the  weeping 
birches,  and  when  the  proprietor  comes  to  look  at  his  trees,  as  the 
time  draws  near  for  them  to  be  in  leaf, — he  weeps  himself,  for  the 
money  he  has  paid  to  that  miserable  tree-man  for  nothing :  and 
too,  after  he  has  employed  the  services  of  a  professional. 

Well,  we  who  love  the  study  of  Pomology  and  Horticulture,  will, 
bye  and  bye  become  better  acquainted  with  the  culture  of  trees  and 
plants,  as  well  as  the  way  in  which  to  procure  them  ;  for  whoever 
has  a  bit  of  sunshine  in  his  heart,  loves  such  care,  next  to  the  care 
of  his  family,  and  needy  humanity. 


56  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 


THE   PKESEXT  STATUS   OF   TOE   KUSSIAX  APPLE  QUESTIOX 

[X   THE   XORTHWEST. 

By  W.  A.  Taylor  of  the  Depaitmeiit  at  ^^'ashiug•toIl. 

The  report  of  the  adaptation  of  Russian  and  other  fruits  to  the 
extreme  northern  parts  of  the  United  States,  issued  b}'  the  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture  in  1888,  marked  a  distinct  step  in  the  progress 
of  hardy  fruit  testing  in  this  country.  Though  it  dealt  to  some 
extpnt  with  all  the  leading  fruits  grown  in  the  colder  sections  lying 
north  of  latitude  40°,  more  than  half  of  the  report  was  devoted  to 
the  apple,  which  as  our  mo-t  important  fruit,  both  for  home  use 
and  market,  was  deserving  of  special  attention. 

The  searcii  for  varieties  of  good  quality  that  would  stand  our 
northern  winters,  part  cularly  in  the  northwest,  had  been  carried  on 
for  years  by  private  experiinenlers  and  in  some  cases  had  been 
aided  by  the  states. 

Concerning  the  decision  reached  by  Mr.  Lyon,  the  special  agent 
to  whom  the  investigation  was  intrusted,  it  must  be  admitted  that 
it  was  unfavorable  to  the  claims  of  those  txperiment  rs  who  had 
advocated  the  widespread  planting  of  the  Russian  varieties. 
Though  many  of  them  had  proved  sufficiently  hardy  to  endure  the 
winters  in  the  intermediate  prairie  district.  It  must  be  said  hovs'- 
ever,  that  at  that  time,  not  many  of  the  later  importations,  from 
central  Russia,  which  were  expected  to  furnish  true  winter  apples 
for  the  northwest,  had  been  fruited  sufficiently  to  determine  their 
value. 

During  the  autumn  of  18'J2  a  second  investigation  was  made  by 
the  department ; — Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  South  Dakota  and  north- 
ern Iowa  having  been  visited  by  a  special  agent,  Mr.  John  8. 
Harris  of  Minnesota.  The  main  object  was  to  determine  the 
progress  made  in  that  sectioa  during  the  four  years  since  the  report 
of  1888  was  published  in  determining  which  of  the  many  varieties 
were  really  valuable.  Of  this  report,  which  will  appear  in  the 
report  of  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  for  1892  the  following  con- 
densation is  made  :  ''The  season  was  in  many  respects  an  unfav- 
orable one,  first,  owing  to  a  check  in  growth  apparently  caused  by 
excessive  rainfall  and  low  temperature  during  the  blooming  season, 
preventing,  perfect  fertilization  of  blossoms,  and  second,  a  very 


STATE    POMOLCGICA.L    SOCIETY.  57 

wide  spread  attack  of  a  blight  wliicli  was  prevalent  through  all  the 
states  visit'd  but  which  showed  its  worst  effect  in  Wisconsin, 
eastern  I  )wa  and  Minnesota.  This  defoliated  some  varieties  and 
caused  them  to  drop  the'r  fruit  and  checked  the  growth  of  many 
others. 

"It  was  most  injurious,  first,  to  Siberian  crabs,  Transcendent 
being  one  of  the  worst ;  second,  to  American  varieties,  such  as 
have  originated  in  this  countr3\  either  as  seedlings  of  European 
varieties  or  of  th?  Siberian  species  ;  these  were  damaged  in  the 
following  order  :  Fall  Queen,  Edgar  Red  Streak,  Talman's  Sweet, 
Fameuse,  Golden  Russet,  Ben  Davis,  Willow,  Perry  Russtt,  Plumb 
Cider.  Bailey  Sweet,  St.  Lawrence,  Malinda,  Utter,  McMahon  and 
Wealthy.  This  list  comprises  all  the  American  apples  grown 
there  ;  third,  the  Russians,  including  Oldenburgh  and  a  number  of 
seedlings  from  Oldenburgh."  The  larger  part  of  the  fruit  produced 
this  year  in  the  northwest  was  of  the  Oldenburgh.  Mr.  Harris 
estimates  that  two-thirds  of  the  home  grown  apples  marketed  in  the 
region  he  visited  were  of  that  variety.  AVealthy  was  next  in  quan- 
tity and  perhaps  equul  in  value,  because  of  its  later  ripening  season 
and  longer  keeping  quality. 

At  the  State  and  county  fairs  the  Russians  formed  the  mos* 
attractive  and  by  far  the  largest  part  of  the  exhibits  and  were 
smooth  and  free  from  scab,  while  of  the  American  varieties  but 
few  were  shown  and  those  were  badly  affected.  But  few  of  them 
are  late  keepers,  however,  and  the  nomenclature  is  very  badly  con- 
fused ;  so  much  so,  as  to  prevent  a  full  report  on  characteristics  of 
varieties  until  the  identity  is  better  settled.  A  visit  to  the  orchard 
of  A.  G.  Tuttle  at  Baraboo,  Wisconsin,  who  has  about  sixt}'  varie- 
ties of  Rus-ians  left,  out  of  over  100  varieties  planted,  disclosed 
the  fact  'hat  they  were  in  much  better  condition  than  an  orchard  of 
mixed  American  varieties  near  by. 

The  most  valuable  of  the  new  Russians  here,  seemed  to  be  Glass 
■Green,  Yellow  and  AVhite  Transparent.  Charlamoff,  Hibernal, 
Antonovka,  Vargul,  Red  Wine,  Czar  Thorn,  Zusoff  Winter, 
LongReld,  Earl}'  Champagne  and  Beautiful  Arcad.  Repka  Ma- 
leuka  also  appears  to  be  a  good  tree  and  the  longest  keeper  of 
them  all,  but  the  fruit  is  too  small  to  be  valuable. 

At  Rochester,  Minnesota,  is  the  largest  orchard  in  this  State. 
It  consists  mainly  of  Oldenburgh,  Wealthy  and  Lougfield.  The 
crop  this  year  was  over  3,500  bushels  ;  150  varieties   have   been 


58  STATE    POMOLOGICAl,    SOCIETY. 

tested  in  this  orchard,  but  only  a  few  have  proved  valuable.  The 
Russians  promising  best  there,  are  Longfield,  Ostrakoff  and 
Hibernal. 

In  Carver  count}',  Minnesota,  in  the  oldest  orchard  of  the  new 
Russians,  about  twenty  varieties  are  doing  reasonably  well  and  are 
as  free  from  blight  as  Oldenburgh.  The  list  is  Borovinka,  Char- 
lamoff.  Cross,  Good  Peasant,  Krimskoe,  Anisovka,  Jungfrau,  Pli- 
kanoff.  Hibernal,  L'eby,  Kluvskoe,  Royal  Table,  Reiuette,  Red 
Repka  and  Numbers  502  and  469. 

Brief  notes  on  a  few  of  the  best  of  the  new  Russians,  received 
at  the  Division  of  Pomology  from  various  sources  are  appended,  as 
follows  : 

Anisette.  From  Dr.  Hoskins,  similar  to  Oldenburgh,  but  two 
weeks  esriier. 

Antonovka  Medium  to  large;  of  good  qualit}' ;  an  early  win- 
ter apple. 

Bi.uE  Anis  Medium  size  ;  conical  yellow,  with  stripes  of  crim- 
son. A  winter  apple  at  Baraboo,  Wisconsin,  and  of  very  good 
quality. 

CiiAKLAMOFF.  Large,  handsome  and  of  fair  quality.  Ripe  early 
in  September  at  Dr.  Hoskins'  place  in  Veimont. 

Cross  of  the  Volga.  Medium  to  large,  clear  yellow,,  and  keeps 
till  late  winter  at  Ames,  Iowa.     One  of  the  best,  and  a  good  keeper. 

Longfield.  Now  widely  known  and  widely  giownin  the  North- 
west.    Of  medium  quality  and  a  fair  keeper. 

LuB^K  Reinettk.  Handsomc,  glossy  white,  with  pink  blu^h. 
An  early  cooking  apple  of  too  delicate  texture  for  market. 

Red  Queen.  Size  medium,  conical,  cavity  very  small  and  full; 
color  greenish  yellow  with  faint  stripes  of  dull  red.  Late  winter  at 
Baraboo,  Wisconsin. 

Titovka.  Large,  oblong,  smooth,  whitish  yellow  wi  h  splashes 
and  stripes  of  bright  caimine.     Pearly  autumn  ;  of  fair  quality. 

White  Russet.  Large,  roundish,  smooth,  white,  with  no  trace 
of  russet  Ripens  with  Dr.  Hoskins  in  early  September  and  is  a 
good  sub-acid  fall  apple. 

In  the  search  for  hardy  varieties  among  Russians,  the  apple 
growers  of  Iowa,  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin  have  not  lost  sight  of 
the  importance  of  growing  seedlings  from  the  hardier  old  varieties 
and  of  improving  the  size  and  quality  of  the  native  crab  by  hybri- 
dizing it  with  pollen  of  desirable  sorts. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  59 

Thousands  of  seedlings  have  been  grown  and  tested  and  some 
valuable  varieties  have  been  produced. 

The  work  of  Peter  M.  Gideon,  the  originator  of  the  Wealthy  and 
a  number  of  other  varieties  now  quite  extensively  grown,  is  too  well 
known  to  northern  apple  growers  to  need  more  than  a  passing  men- 
tion. Manj'  others  are  engaged  in  the  sam  line  of  work  with  more 
or  less  indication  of  success.  It  is  being  carried  on  with  much 
activity  in  Iowa  where  the  State  Horticultural  Society  has  taken  it 
in  hand  in  a  systematic  way  and  is  conducting  some  extensive 
experiments  in  breeding  and  growng  seedlings  of  the  different 
fruits,  with  a  view  to  securirg  varieties  combining  good  quality 
and  a  desirable  season  of  lipening,  with  hardiness.  In  tiie  case  of 
the  apple,  one  line  of  work  thus  far  begun  has  consisted  in  an 
attempt  to  grotv  from  two  or  three  selected  wild  crab  tr  es  that 
have  proved  perfectly  hardy  during  a  long  term  of  years,  and  which 
bear  fruit  of  good  size,  a  lot  of  hybrids  resulting  from  the  use  cf 
pollen  of  standard  market  and  table  varieties. 

In  1891  about  10,000  hand  pollinations  Avere  made,  a  large  num- 
ber of  them  on  the  apple.  In  the  fall  the  fruit  resulting  fr5m  these 
was  gathered  and  the  seeds  placed  in  the  hands  of  skilled  propa- 
gators for  growing. 

This  is  so  far  as  I  know  the  most  extensive  and  systematic  effort 
made  by  a  society  in  this  line  and  its  outcome  will  he  watched  with 
much  interest. 

Among  the  many  new  sorts  which  have  proved  successful  and 
valuable  over  a  large  pait  of  the  intermediate  prairie  district,  the 
Maine  orchardist  in  search  of  hardy  varieties  will  probably  find 
some  varieties  that  will  succeed  with  him  as  well  as  \Yealthy. 

Some  of  the  best  are  the  following : 

McMahon.  This  variety,  which  bas  now  been  widely  testi  d,  is 
found  to  be  very  hardy  and  a  valuable  fall  app'e.  Its  handsome 
appearance  combined  with  fair  quality  have  given  it  a  wide  spread 
popularity  in  the  Northwest.  It  originated  in  Richland  County, 
Wisconsin.  It  is  said  by  its  originator  to  be  a  seedhng  of  Alex- 
ander, grown  in  1860.  It  was  named  by  the  Richland  County 
Horticultural  Society  in  1870.  Size  large  ;  roundish  oblate,  coni- 
cal;  cavity  large,  regular,  deep,  flaring,  russeted  ;  stem  medium  to 
long,  sometimes  downy  ;  basin  large,  angular,  deep,  abrupt ;  calyx 
segments  short,  green  ;  eye  medium,  clostd  ;  surface  smooth,  shin- 
ing, yellowish  white  often  half  covered   with  a  beautiful   carmine 


60  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

blush;  flesh  greeuish  white,  rather  coarse,  juicy,  firm,  breaking; 
core  medium  broad,  closed,  clasping;  seeds  large,  long,  dark 
brown,  numerous  ;  flavor  sprightly  sub-acid  to  sour,  excellent  for 
cooking. 

Northwestern  Greening.  This  vatiety  is  traced  to  a  root 
sprout,  from  a  grafted  tree  that  had  been  winter  killed  in  central 
Wisconsin.  It  has  not  yet  been  sufflcently  tested  during  a  severe 
winter  to  be  safely  recommended  for  planting  on  the  cold,  dry 
prairies  but  is  hardy  in  the  county  where  it  first  came  to  notice, 
and  would  probably  stand  almost  anywhere  along  the  northern 
fringe  of  the  Maine  apple  region.  Though  not  of  high  quality  it  is 
a  good  apple,  of  large  size,  nearly  round,  regular,  slightly  conical, 
changing  to  yellow  w.th  large,  dark  dots  as  it  ripens  ;  cavity  large, 
round,  abrupt,  russetted  ;  s  em  medium  ;  basin  large,  round,  wavy, 
deep ;  calyx  segments  long,  narrow,  reflexed ;  eye  large  open ; 
core  broad,  large,  closed,  meeting  the  eye  ;  seeds  small  to  medium, 
plump,  light  brown,  numerous;  flesh  yellowish,  lather  coarse, 
flavor  mild,  sub-acid,  ntarl}'  sweet;  season,  winter,  in  Wisconsin. 
Can  be  kept  till  late  spring  but  the  fle>h  becomes  dry  and  insipid 
after  its  time  of  maturity  is  past. 

Newell.  This  variety,  a  seedling  of  Perry  Russet,  was  for 
some  years  grown  under  the  name  Orange  Winter,  given  it  in  honor 
of  its  originator,  Mr.  Orange  Winter  of  Sauk  Co  ,  W^isconsin. 
It  is  a  late  fall  or  early  winter  apple  of  good  quality.  Prof.  Goff 
regards  it  as  the  best  apple  in  quality  that  is  now  grown  in  Wis- 
consin. Much  confusion  has  been  caused  by  the  misapprehension 
concerning  the  meaning  of  its  former  name,  and  to  avoid  that  in 
future,  the  Sauk  County  Horticultural  Society  has  adopted  the 
name  Newell.  It  is  a  large,  oblate,  apple  ;  cavity  irregular,  large, 
deep,  abrupt,  corrugated ;  stem  medium,  slender ;  basin  large, 
deep,  abrupt,  regular,  netted  with  russet;  calyx  segments  short, 
converging  ;  eye  large,  open  ;  surface  smooth,  greenish  yellow  with 
small  brown  dots.  Flesh  yellowish  white,  fine  grained  ;  core  large, 
broad,  oval,  clasping,  open ;  setds  plump,  medium  size,  dark 
brown,  numerous;  flavor  mild  sub-acid,  almost  sweet,  quality 
good 

Patten  Greening.  A  seedling  of  Oldenburgh  grown  about  1870 
by  C  G.  Patten,  Charles  City,  Iowa.  Medium  to  large,  oblate 
conical ;  cavity  round,  large,  shallow,  flaring,  thinly  marked  with 
rus  et ;  stem  very  shor  ,  quite  stout;  basin  round,  large,  abrupt. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAT.    SOCIETY.  61 

slightly  augled  aud  downy  ;  calyx  segments  broad,  converging ; 
eye  large,  closed  ;  surface  waxy,  lustrous  ;  color  greenish  white 
with  numerous  large  dots.  Fle-h  white,  coarse,  breaking, 
moderately  jircy ;  core  conical  clasping  closed ;  seeds  medium 
size,  plump,  brown,  few  ;  flavor  inild  acid  ;  quality  good,  especially 
for  cooking  ;  season  early  winter. 


CEAXBEREY   CULTUEE. 
By  Eev.  N.  H.  Chamberlain,  Monument  Beach,  3[:iss. 

The  laws  of  cranberry  culture  are  ijnmutable.  You  obey  these 
laws  and  you  mske  money.  You  disobt-y  them,  you  lose  what  you 
might  desire,  but  what  you  never  had.  There  is  money  in  it  under 
right  conditions  ;  plenty  of  it.  You  know  your  own  soil.  Y'ou 
have  one  condition  in  your  State  —  plenty  of  good,  sandy  g  ound  ; 
and  wherever  you  find  cranberries,  you  will  find  a  light  soil. 

In  the  United  States  are  three  localities  in  which  cranberry 
culture  is  followed  to  a  large  extent ;  Cape  Cod,  being  just  now 
the  foremost,  because  it  was  the  cradle  of  cranberry  culture.  The 
three  are  Cape  Cod,  New  Jersey  and  Wiseons'n. 

There  are  three  things  cranberry  culture  require  which  I  will 
put  in  the  order  of  their  value  :  three  conditions  immutable  are, 
water  first,  sand  second,  and  soil  third.  But  they  tell  me  in  the 
State  of  Maine,  that  you  have  got  about  two  or  three  feet  of  muck 
in  your  lowlands,  and  clay  under  it.  I  do  not  care  for  that,  if  you 
have  soil  with  two  feet  of  muck,  that  is  all  right ;  because  if  the 
muck  food  gave  out  ycu  could  supply,  with  fertilizers.  Muck  is 
the  basis  of  the  soil  The  three  things  are  water,  sand  and  soil. 
Have  those  onditions  in  your  possession  and  you  can  raise  cran- 
berries in  almost  any  climate. 

Now  let  us  begin  with  the  soil.  Of  course,  you  would  say,  you 
have  got  to  have  low  land  for  cranberry  culture,  because  you  must 
have  water.  With  us  on  Cape  Cod,  I  will  observe  that  all  the 
advantage  Cape  Cod  has  is,  that  it  has  a  latitude  that  somehow 
gives  certain  things  which  distinguish  it  from  other  sections  of  the 
country.  Our  berries  will  weigh  more  than  your  berries.  I  do  not 
know  why  it  is,  but  our  berries  will  weigh  more  than  New  Jer=ey 
berries. 


62  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

We  have  this  land  that  uever  was  worth  a  dollar  to  anybody, 
which  has  become  the  most  valuable  land  on  the  Cape.  These 
swamps,  we  have,  not  ravines  like  }Ours  with  your  rivers.  I  sup- 
pose you  have  these  swamps  in  Maine  ;  two,  three,  or  ten  acres 
with  a  bottom  of  muck.  They  go  in  there  wherever  they  can 
drain  their  bogs.  K  you  cannot  drain  your  bog  down  to  from 
twelve  to  forty  inches  below  th*^  surface,  you  cannot  get  the  body 
of  water  to  apply  to  the  vegetation  in  the  cranb  rry  bog  and  it  will 
beat  you. 

I  suppose  you  have  swamps  here  that  you  can  drain.  I  will  take 
this  room  for  a  cranl  erry  bog.  If  it  is  covered  with  bushes  or 
trees, — for  they  sometimes  cut  down  whole  forests, — you  must  dig 
up  the  roots.  You  clear  your  bog  in  that  way  and  your  good  sense 
would  show  you  how  to  make  a  level  surface  of  it.  If  3'ou  are 
going  to  have  water  you  must  have  a  dam  on  the  stream  Then 
after  level  ing  your  bog  j^ou  dig  a  ditch  from  the  upland  about 
three  rods  wide  ;  cut  into  sections  of  three  or  four  rods  wide, 
according  to  the  amount  of  drainage  3'ou  want.  That  divides  the 
bog  into  sections. 

Supposing,  in  these  lowlands  you  have  spi'ings  in  the  edges  of 
your  bogs  ;  you  must  cut  off  the  spring  water  by  running  an  upland 
ditch.  So  far  as  the  culture  of  cranberries  is  concerned,  you  must 
make  the  bog  so  you  can  raise  a  crop  of  corn  on  the  soil,  and  so 
you  can  cover  it  with  water  for  the  reasons  I  have  given  you.  So 
much  for  the  ditches. 

It  the  upland  has  no  springs,  it  is  an  open  question  whether  an 
upland  ditch  pays.  If  3'ou  do  not  dig  up  the  grasses  the}'  will 
trouble  you. 

The  next  thing  is  sand.  You  have  got  to  cover  that  whole  bog 
with  sand.  Wh}'?  In  the  first  place,  I  do  not  know  anything 
about  cranberry  culture  down  below  a  certain  point ;  but  I  know 
practically,  you  have  got  to  have  sand.  It  furnishes  aomething  to 
the  vines  that  muck  does  not,  nor  loam  ;  because  you  might  go  to 
work  and  try  to  avoid  the  expense  of  sanding  your  bog  ;  then  raise 
your  cranberry  vines.  Y'ou  would  find  your  vines  grew  luxuriantly, 
but  it  would  be  all  vines  and  no  fruit.  Sand  gives  warmth.  Sand 
keeps  in  condition,  in  due  proportions  the  vines  and  berries.  Sand 
is  to  the  cranberry  vine,  what  right  medicine  is  to  the  human  body. 
Sand  3'ou  must  have  in  cranberry  growth.  Then  it  serves  as  a 
mulch  to  keep  the  moisture  in  a  dry  spell.     Y''ou  go  into  a  side  hill 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  63 

and  dig  your  sand  and  but  it  on  the  bog  all  the  way  from  five  to 
eight  inches.  A  bog  that  has  eight  inches  of  sand  will  last  longer 
than  with  five.  You  do  not  know  what  power  a  bedding  of  sand 
on  old  vines  will  have  on  those  vines  the  next  year.  They  will 
come  up  like  great  American  families.  Everywhere  there  will  be 
signs  and  promises  of  future  growth  and  crops. 

You  must  plant  the  vines.  With  a  little  wooden  tool  you  mark 
out  lines,  both  ways,  longitudinal  and  crosswise.  Where  the  lines 
cross  it  should  be  fourteen  inches  apart.  When  you  get  the  vines 
set  out,  they  must  be  twelve  or  fourteen  inches  apart.  When  we 
want  to  set  out  the  vines  we  put  a  man  on  where  the  vines  are  vig- 
orous and  cut  them  off.  You  do  not  want  them  too  short,  cut 
them  off  all  the  way  from  six  to  seven  inches  and  carry  them  upon 
the  bog  in  a  basket ;  if  3'ou  put  your  own  hands  to  the  plow,  then 
take  an  ordinary  stick  and  make  a  hole  down  through  the  sand  into 
the  muck  an  inch  or  so  and  take  three  or  four  of  these  vines  and 
make  a  little  wisp  of  them  and  put  them  into  the  hole,  the  ends  of 
the  vine  through  the  sand  into  the  muck  and  push  the  sand  about  it 
and  you  have  your  hill  planted.  If  you  mass  tbe  vines  t'  gether 
in  too  big  a  bunch,  they  don't  do  as  well. 

Now  we  have  got  one  plant  set  out;  we  have  got  started.  The 
first  year  after  you  begin,  you  get  a  few.  berries  ;  the  next  year,  a 
few  more  ;  the  third  year  a  fair  crop  ;  the  fourth  season  is  one  of 
the  best  unless  you  lose  the  crop  by  frost  or  some  other  cause. 

There  are  two  divis'ons  of  the  berries.  The  earl}^  blacks  get 
ripe  two  or  three  weeks  before  the  later  berries  get  ripe.  There 
would  be  this  advantage  to  your  Maine  people.  I  think  that  Maine 
is  colder  than  southern  Massachusetts,  but  I  am  told  that  we  are 
as  liable  to  early  frosts  as  you  are  here  ;  for  twice  on  that  Cape, 
all  have  lost  a  large  portion  of  our  crop  on  the  13th  of  June.  You 
can  judge  whether  Nature  is  worse  with  us  than  With  you.  It  is  a 
fine  looking  berry  and  comes  one  or  tvs^o  weeks  earlier  'than  the 
late  berry. 

The  largest  berries  are  not  as  valuable,  because  they  rot  easily  ; 
more  liable  to  indentation;  because  every  time  you  handle  cran- 
berries with  your  hands  they  lose  a  certain  value.  \;The  cranberry 
vine  is  a  great  mixture  of  eccentricities.  The  cranberry  vine  seems 
to  have  life  like  the  life  of  a  cat,  but  you  take  a  wisp  of  hay  and 
throw  it  down  cm  a  mat  of  cranberries,  the  chances]  are  that  it  will 
kill  your  vines  underneath. 


64  STA.TE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

One  thing  I  want  to  say.  You  cannot  raise  cranberries  in  the 
shade  of  grass  or  shrubs.  We  sometimes  raise  160  barrels  to  the 
acre  ;  that  is  business.  Then  if  you  undertake  cranb'  rry  culture, 
I  advise  you,  if  you  have  native  vines,  to  plant  a  few  of  those 
vines  and  see  how  they  do.  You  might  strike  a  fine  variety.  We 
did  that  and  found  our  native  vines,  grown  from  the  beginning, 
that  they  were  prolific  p  oducers,  but  tremendously  late  and  we  did 
not  want  them.  Then  there  is  tiiis  thing.  If  you  fail  in  cranberries 
I  do  not  see  why  3'ou  would  not  have  a  good  English  meadow  left. 
If  you  have  seen  a  cranberry  bog  in  its  growing  time,  it  is  simply 
a  mass  of  mud  covered  entirely  with  vines.  It  is  a  sin  in  cra'iberry 
culture  to  have  a  root  or  shrub,  a  leaf  or  tuft  of  grass  on  that  brg. 
You  can  measure  your  crop  by  the  grass. 

Innumerable  things  grow  on  a  cranberry  bog.  If  you  know  the 
slink  weed  or  punk  root,  I  can  show  you  and  affirm  that  punk  root 
or  slink  weed,  that  grows  in  the  water  and  thiows  out  long  flexible 
branches  and  blossoms  about  August,  that  it  is  the  sum  of  vege- 
table villainies.  It  cost  us  ^1000  in  our  bog.  It  goes  through 
everything  but  an  iron  can  or  stone  wall  You  wil  find  it  on  the 
edges  of  your  bogs.  It  is  tough  and  will  cut  you  if  you  take  a 
limb.  If  3'ou  throw  it  mto  the  water,  into  the  steam,  it  will  float 
down,  take  root  and  live. 

An  insect  comes  and  lays  eggs  in  the  calyx  of  the  cranberrj' 
blossom.  This  egg  is  to  be  seen  only  with  a  powerful  microscope, 
right  in  the  head  where  the  flower  is  coming.  Then  when  the  egg 
hatches  there  is  a  worm  right  in  the  head  of  the  flower  and  it 
develops  with  the  new  shoot ;  so  you  can  tell.  You  look  for  your 
fire  worm  to  come  when  you  see  the  new  shoots  come  in  the  spring. 
This  fellow  comes  out  into  his  life,  into  the  vitality  of  the  coming 
crop  ;  he  comes  and  eats  and  weaves  his  web.  In  weaving  bis  web, 
it  draws  together  the  1(  af  of  the  cranberry  and  that  causes  the 
lighter  color  on  the  under  part  of  the  leaf. 

Now  comes  the  matter  of  war.  When  you  find  he  is  there,  shut 
down  thj  flume  boaids  and  put  the  water  on.  Give  him  uine  hours 
under  water  and  your  enemy  is  dead  ;  dead  like  the  pests  of  the 
Egyptians.  But  there  are  two  crops  of  these  fellows.  Tlie  first 
crop  is  small.  When  the  first  crop  comes,  then  you  must  kill  your 
enemy,  because,  if  you  do  not,  wh'  n  he  passes  into  the  miller  con- 
dition he  goes  about  multiplying  himsdf,  lays  his  eggs,  then  comes 
a  second  crop  ;  and  in  three  days  after  that  second  crop  comes  if 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  65 

you  don't  destroy  the  first,  the  cranberry  plants  look  brown,  red 
and  dead  as  a  door  nail.  The  deadest  thing  I  ever  saw  was  a  cran- 
berry^ bog  after  the  fire  worm  had  been  over  it.  Put  the  water  back 
and  you  kill  him. 

The  other  great  enemy  of  the  cranberry  is  what  is  called  the 
meadow  worm.  It  is  not  fat?l ;  it  rarely  destroys  more  than  one- 
sixth  of  the  crop,  but  it  is  no  good  to  the  cultivator. 

The  berry  worm  comes,  and  as  the  berry  grows  he  grows  inside 
of  it  and  he  eats  the  very  heart  of  the  berry  and  he  eats  himself  to 
death  there  or  crawls  out  to  go  into  another  berry.  He  disappears  ; 
then  they  have  a  variety  of  new  worms  coming.  The  Lord  knows 
what  they  are  sent  for.  The  fire  worm  is  the  worst.  If  you  under- 
take to  kill  the  fire  worm,  the  second  crop  of  them,  you  see  your 
flowers  are  open,  you  would  wash  the  pollen  out  of  them  ;  you  can- 
not put  the  water  over  the  pollen.  You  must  take  the  fellow  when 
he  begins  ;  then  if  you  can  cover  the  bog  with  water  you  can  kill 
him. 

I  consider  that  the  bog  that  you  can  flow  in  six  hours  with  water 
is  worth  150  per  cent  more  than  one  you  cannot  flow.  Ton  can 
fight  the  very  heavens  and  earth,  the  frost,  the  worms  ;  you  can 
protect  your  crop.  When  you  have  early  frosts  you  can  flow  your 
bog  and  save  your  crop  ;  and  your  berries  will  bring  more  than  if 
the  market  wa5  flooded. 

We  can  raise  cranberrif  s  as  cheaply  as  they  can  be  raised  on  the 
face  of  the  globe.  We  are  going  to  get  the  English  and  French 
markets,  and  we  have  a  big  market  at  home.  You  cannot  over- 
produce. The  limitations  are  such  ;  the  climate  and  soil  do  not 
go  to  stupidity  ;  it  cannot  be  overdone.  It  will  cost  you  S3  a  bar- 
rel, the  best  you  can  do.  Anything  you  make  over  S3  a  barrel 
is  in  your  pocket.  The  average  price  runs  from  $5.50  to  S6.60.  I 
do  not  get  S7  ;  but  suppose  I  get  $6.50,  that  gives  me  $3.50  a 
barrel.  Supposing  I  get  S8  a  barrel,  I  make  $5  a  barrel.  It  costs 
us  S3  a  barrel  to  market  our  cranberries.  If  you  keep  your  berries 
for  a  late  market,  I  imagine  they  are  worth  SIO  or  $11. 

DISCUSSION. 

Ques.     When  is  your  planting  season  ? 

Ans.  It  has  been  in  the  spring.  Anytime  in  the  spring  until 
July,  when  you  would  be  liable  to  get  too  hot  weather.  Spring  is 
better  than  fall ;   because  I  think  they  will  live  if  you  keep  them 


66  STATE    P0M0LOGICA.L    SOCIETY. 

moist,  if  you  keep  the  vines  under  water  till  you  take  them  up.     It 
is  better  to  plant  in  the  spring. 

If  you  let  your  vines  stay  out  in  the  air  through  the  winter,  some 
fine  winter,  you  will  get  a  winter  kill  on  them.  You  lose  your 
vines  ;  or  the  vines  are  alive  to  a  certain  extent  at  the  roots,  but  it 
kills  your  crops  for  two  years  if  you  get  a  winter  kill.  Before  the 
time  of  freezing  up  you  put  the  g  ites  down  and  flow  the  bog. 

If  you  have  frost  coming  on  young  berries  in  July,  they  begin  to 
set  about  the  first  of  July,  if  the  water  covers  those  berries,  in  that 
condition,  nine  hours  it  kills  them,  but  when  your  crop  is  grown  you 
can  throw  the  water  on  and  keep  it  on  forty-eight  hours, — I  ihink  a 
week,  and  it  would  not  kill  them.  If  the  frost  comes  very  early  in 
the  fall  and  has  a  pretty  general  spread,  the  man  who  can  keep  his 
berries  will  get  a  good  price  for  them. 

Ques.  Is  there  any  special  benefit  from  flowing? 
Ans.  Only  as  it  keeps  up  the  temperature,  no.  If  you  keep  up 
the  temperature,  you  keep  the  frost  off.  More  than  fifty  years  ago 
I  was  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Barnstable.  They  have  a  tremen- 
dous beach  separating  the  margin  from  the  upland  with  great  sand 
banks.  The  town  ordered  that  the  people  should  go  there  and  pick 
cranberries.  As  I  remember  it,  it  seemed  as  if  those  cranberries 
were  growing  out  of  the  sand.  But  I  do  not  think  you  can  get  some- 
thing out  of  nothing ;  it  must  have  been  the  muck  that  was  under- 
neath the  sand.  Now  they  have  got  all  these  places  turned  into 
private  cranberry  bogs.  They  think  close  by  the  sea  is  better  ;  but 
if  you  can  control  water  and  keep  the  frost  away  from  your  vines 
you  are  all  right. 

Mr.  Pope.  You  think  it  is  necessary  in  winter  to  have  flowage  if 
they  keep  the  ice  away  from  the  plant.  Would  it  do  to  have  a  foot 
of  ice  pressing  upon  the  vines? 

Ans.  I  don't  know  as  it  does  any  particular  good  ;  but  I  am 
sorry  to  sa}  ,  I  think  that  is  the  condition  of  my  bog  at  this  moment. 
We  have  had  our  vines  in  the  ice  a  good  many  years  and  it  did  not 
seem  to  hurt  them  ;  but  I  do  not  think  it  would  do  them  any  good. 
Mr.  Knowlton.  How  long  should  the  water  flow  over  it  in  the 
fall  ?  Whether  you  would  cover  as  soon  as  the  berries  are  off  and 
keep  flowed  until  spring? 

Ans.  I  think  it  is  better  to  leave  it  as  late  as  you  can,  because 
the  buds  must  be  developing  pretty  late  ;  I  should  say  early  flowage 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  67 

would  put  back  the  development.  It  should  be  kept  flowed  through 
the  winter.  As  soon  as  you  flow  jour  bog  you  want  to  keep  it 
flowed  lill  spring. 


SPEAYIXG   EXPERIMENTS  IX   1892. 

At  the  meeting  of  this  society  which  was  held  in  Cornish,  last 
winter,  I  gave  some  general  notes  regarding  the  importance  of 
doing  something  to  check  the  ravages  of  the  Codling  moth  and  the 
apple  scab,  at  the  same  time  presenting  a  statement  of  the  work 
done  b}^  the  ICxperiment  Station  in  solving  some  of  the  problems 
connected  with  this  work.  It  is  unnecessary  at  the  present  time  to 
repeat  the  statements  then  made,  but  I  have  been  requested  to  pre- 
sent, so  far  as  possible,  the  results  obtained  by  ourselves  and  by 
the  leading  orchardists  of  the  State,  during  the  past  season.  The 
woik  relative  to  the  control  of  the  Codling  moth,  which  I  had 
planned  for  the  past  season,  was  only  partially  carried  out.  Con- 
sequently I  shall  present  only  the  reports  of  those  orchardists  who 
have  undertaken  work  in  this  direction. 

In  response  to  a  letter  sent  to  some  twenty  orchardists  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  State,  eight  replies  giving  the  results  of  experience 
were  received.  Several  prominent  fruit  growers  have  had  no  experi- 
ence, while  others  have  just  begun  and  are  not  ready  to  report,  but 
will  spray  next  year. 

The  following  notes,  condensed  from  replies  received,  speak  for 
themselves  : 

S.  R.  Sweetser,  CumberU'nd  Centre:  Sprayed  once,  June  lOlh, 
using  one  pound  Paris  Green  to  150  gallons  water.  The  foliage 
was  net  injured  and  the  fruit  was  better  than  usual,  but  there  were 
no  checks  for  comparison.  It  was  Mr.  Sweetser's  first  experience 
in  spraying. 

S.  C.  Harlow,  Bangor :  Sprayed  twice,  June  25tband  July  2nd, 
using  one  pound  Paris  Green  to  360  gallons  water.  (Was  unable 
to  spray  earlier,  because  of  rain.)  Mr.  Harlow  has  sprayed  for 
six  years  and  is  "more  than  satisfied  with  the  results."  The  least 
tendency  to  injury  of  foliage  has  been  found  to  occur  in  a  bright, 
dry  atmosphere,  and  the  greatest  in  damp,  cloudy  weather. 

D.  J.  Briggs,  South  Turner:  Sprayed  once,  about  June  lOlh, 
with  London  Purple,  in  the  proportion  of  one  pound  to  150  gallons 


68  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

water.  The  cost  of  the  application  was  about  three  cents  per  tree^ 
and  the  foliage  was  not  injured.  Mr.  Briggs  thinks  "if  well  done^ 
spraying  pays  very  well,"  and  he  will  continue  to  spray. 

Charles  S.  Pope,  Manchester :  Had  such  a  large  crop  of  fruit  that 
the  worms  made  no  showing  ;  so  could  not  tell  whether  benefit  was 
derived  from  spraying.  In  such  a  case  as  this,  I  should  consider 
the  codling  larva  a  blessing  rather  than  otherwise,  for  the  reason 
that  too  many  orchardists  can  net  bring  themselves  to  do  necessary 
thinning  of  the  fruit. 

W.  P.  Atherton,  Hallowell:  Sprayed  once,  the  latter  part  of 
June,  with  one  pound  Paris  Green  to  250  gallons  water.  The 
foliage  was  injured  on  some  trees,  from  the  fact  that  care  was  not 
used  in  rinsing  the  barrel  each  time  after  emptying,  so  in  some 
cases  the  mixture  was  much  too  strong.  Mr.  Atherton  is  well 
pleased  with  results,  and  was  greatly  disappointed  in  being  unable 
to  spray  but  once,  the  past  season,  on  account  of  breaking  his  pump. 

Henry  Smith,  Monmouth:  Spra^-ed  once,  using  one  pound  Paris 
Green  to  160  gallons  water.  In  1891  be  used  one  pound  to  eighty 
gallons,  and  injured  the  foliage  when  the  mixture  was  not  con- 
stantly stirred.  Mr.  Smith  is  well  satisfied  with  the  results,  and 
has  used  checks  so  that  he  has  proved  to  his  own  satisfaction  that 
spraying  is  effective.  H*;  has  sprayed  for  several  seasons,  and 
when  I  was  at  his  orchard  in  October,  he  informed  me  that  spraying 
had  ceased  to  be  an  experiment  with  him,  as  he  was  perfectly 
satisfied  as  to  its  value. 

H.  W.  Brown,  Newburg :  Sprayed  all  of  his  trees  once,  and  part 
of  them  twice,  using  one  pound  of  Paris  Green  to  250  gallons  water. 
The  cost  was  about  three  cents  per  tree,  and  Mr.  Brown  expresses 
himself  as  well  satisfied  with  the  results.  He  also  emphasizes  the 
importance  of  using  3i  Jine  spray,  and  keeping  the  mixture  thoi'oughly 
mixed. 

S.  H.  Daives,  Harrison:  Sprayed  twice,  June  14  and  July  11, 
using  one  pound  of  Paris  Green  to  300  gallons  water,  and  to  each 
fifty  gallons  was  added  one  gallon  lime  whitewash,  to  prevent  injury 
to  foliage.  The  cost  of  spraying — including  everything — was  about 
three  and  one-third  cents  per  tree.  Regarding  the  effectiveness  of 
the  treatment,  Mr.  Dawes  writes  :  "The  ground  under  the  row  not 
sprayed  was  covered  with  wormy  fruit,  while  from  the  sprayed  rows 
on  either  side,  scarcely  a  wormy  apple  was  to  be  seen.  Fully  ninety 
per  cent  of  the  fruit  on  the  sprayed  trees  was  peifect,  and  there 


SPATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  69 

was  no  injar}'  to  the  foliage  when  lime  was  used.  M3'  experience 
during  the  past  two  seasons  has  fully  convinced  me  that  spraying 
pays  and  I  shall  continue  it  as  long  as  I  continue  in  the  fruit  busi- 
ness. There  is  no  labor  thai  pays  so  well  if  the  work  is  properly 
done." 

One  correspondent,  whose  orchard  is  very  productive,  has  not 
been  greath'  troubled  with  wormy  fruit.  He  has  bought  fruit  from 
other  orchards  which  had  been  sprayed,  and  found  it  worse  than  his 
own.  This,  however,  is  no  criterion.  As  before  noted,  if  the  tree 
is  heavily  loaded,  the  presence  of  the  codling  larva  is  to  be  desired, 
unless  the  owner  has  sufficient  courage  to  thin  the  fruit.  It  is 
nature's  method  of  preventing  too  great  a  tax  on  the  strength  of 
the  tree.  It  is  also  ver}'  evident  that  the  amount  of  wormy  fruit, 
though  it  might  be  actually  the  same  in  the  two  orchards,  would 
appear  much  less  in  a  large  lot  than  in  a  small  one,  and  of  course 
the  per  cent  of  damage  would  be  smaller. 

Last  winter  the  question  as  to  the  danger  of  eating  fruit  which 
had  been  sprayed  was  discussed,  and  from  a  theoretical  considera- 
tion of  the  subject  we  concluded  that  there  was  absolutely  no  da,nger 
from  eating  the  sprayed  fruit; — that  the  highest  probab'e  amount 
of  poison  per  fruit,  on  trees  sprayed  twice  with  Paris  Green  in  the 
proportion  of  one  pound  to  200  gallons  of  water,  was  less  than 
3-1000  grain.*  To  assure  ourselves  in  a  practical  way  of  the  sub- 
stantial correctnes-s  of  this  statement,  a  number  of  fruits  were 
actually  immersed  in  a  preparation  of  Bordeaux  mixture,  to  which 
Paris  Green  had  been  added  in  the  proportion  of  one  pound  to  250 
gallons  of  the  mixture.  The  variety  used  was  the  Alexander.  The 
fruits  were  dipped  in  the  mixture  July  20th  and  were  left  till  matu- 
rity, when  they  were  taken  to  the  chemical  laboratory  and  submitted 
to  analysis.  Result :  No  trace  of  arsenic  found.  I  regard  this  as 
an  important  test  from  the  fact  that  by  immersing  the  fruit  the 
greatest  possible  amount  of  the  mixture  was  obtained,  and  the  P>or- 
deaux  mixture  being  much  more  adhesive,  would  remain  on  the  fruit 
much  longer  than  would  a  simple  mixture  of  Paris  Green  and  water. 
Therefore  I  would  repeat  the  statement  made  last  year  :  There  is  no 
reason  why  fruit  sprayed  as  directed  should  be  unwholesome.  But 
I  would  also  add  the  caution  that  care  must  be  used  in  making  the 
application. 

*Rep.  Maine  Pom.  Soc.  18S)2,  p.  7S. 


70  STATK    POMOLOGIOAL    SOCIETY. 

APPLE    SCAB. 

But  one  of  our  correspondents — Mr.  Henry  Smith  of  Monmouth 
-  had  attempted  the  use  of  an}^  of  the  copper  compounds  to  check 
the  apple  scab.  Some  have  had  little  trouble  from  this  source,  and 
one  thought  he  had  derived  benefit  from  the  use  of  London  Purple. 
I  should  question  the  aecurac}'  of  the  last  observation,  however,  as 
London  Purple,  being  an  impure  arsenite  of  lime,  does  not  contain 
the  elements  usually  considered  of  value  in  this  connection.  Mr. 
Smith  has  sprayed  for  two  or  three  seasons  with  Bordeaux  mixture 
— four  pounds  lime,  six  pounds  Copper  Sulphate  and  thirty  gallons 
vvater — and  is  fully  convinced  of  the  value  of  the  treatment.  From 
his  former  experience,  Mr.  Smith  was  so  well  satisfied  with  the 
effectiveness  of  the  spraying,  that  he  left  few  checks  this  year.  In 
one  orchard,  however,  two  rows  of  Nodhea«ls  were  sprayed,  afttr 
bloom,  with  Bordeaux  mixture  and  Paris  Green.  As  to  the  result 
Mr.  Smith  writes:  ''From  those  two  rows  I  gathered  the  finest 
specimens  I  ever  raised — large,  bright  and  free  from  scab  and 
worms  ;  while  two  trees  not  sprayed  were,  I  think,  as  bad  as  any  I 
ever  saw — gnarly,  scabby  and  almost  worthless." 

Our  own  work  in  connection  with  this  subject  was,  in  some 
respects,  less  satisfactory'^  than  last  year  ;  but  in  a  general  way  the 
results  are  very  encouraging.  The  work  was  conducted  on  the 
same  general  lines  as  last  year,  both  Mr.  Pope  of  Manchester  and 
Mr.  Moore  of  Winthrop  co-operating.  The  season  was  very 
unfavorable  and  it  was  difficult  to  find  a  suitable  time  for  the  work. 
In  neaily  every  instance  rain  fell  within  twenty-four  hours  after  the 
spraying  was  finished,  and  as  a  consequence  the  results  were  mate- 
rially affected. 

Mr.  Moore's  orchard  is  usually  very  badly  attacked  and  would 
seem  to  be  an  excellent  field  for  work.  Many  of  the  trees  bore 
very  heavily  in  1891,  however,  and  were  not  as  well  adapted  for 
our  use  as  they  otherwise  would  have  been,  as  trees  bearing  but  little 
fruit  are  seldom  attacked  so  badly  as  those  which  are  heavily 
loaded. 

Two  solutions  were  used  in  Mr.  Moore's  orchard  —  the  ammonia- 
cal  solution  of  copper  carbonate,  recommended  last  year,  and  the 
"improved"  ammonia-copper  carbonate  solution  suggested  by 
Professor  Galloway. 

The  first  of  these,  which  we  will  call  solution  A,  consisted  of  five 
ounces  carbonate  of  copper,  three  pints  strong  ammonia,  fifty  gal- 


STATE    POMOLOGICAI,    SOCIETY.  71 

Ions  water.  The  second,  solution  B,  consisted  of  three  ounces  car- 
bonate of  copper,  one  pound  carbonate  of  ammonia,  fifty  gallons 
water. 

A  number  of  trees  were  sprayed  four  times  with  each  solution, 
while  others  in  the  same  vicinity  were  left  as  checks.  Rain  followed 
soon  after  each  application,  and  the  results  were  not  as  striking  as 
might  be  desired.  The  average  results,  however,  are  slightly  in 
favor  of  the  spra3-ed  trees  as  compared  with  the  unsprayed,  while 
solution  A  gave  slightly  better  results  than  did  solution  B.  The 
percentage  of  fruit  absolutely  free  from  scab,  was  very  low  in 
every  case.  In  a  general  way,  however,  the  work  is  of  value  in 
that  it  confirms  the  results  obtained  in  Mr.  Pope's  orchard. 

The  work  carried  on  in  the  orchard  belonging  to  our  president, 
Mr.  Pope  of  Manchester,  was  of  sufficient  extent  to  warrant  very 
free  conclusions,  from  a  commercial  poi..t  of  view.  The  or:!hard  is 
situated  on  a  gravelly  hill-side,  having  a  northwestern  exposure, and 
instead  of  single  isolated  trees  being  given  different  treatment, 
contiguous  rows,  extending  down  the  hill- side  were  selected.  In 
this  way  all  of  the  rows  presented  essentially  the  same  conditions, 
pait  of  the  trees  being  on  high  land  and  part  on  low. 

In  addition  to  the  two  solutions  used  in  Mr.  Moore's  orchard,  a 
third — the  modified  eau  celeste  described  last  year  was  used.  The 
formula  for  this  solution  was  as  follows  :  Two  ponnds  sulphate  of 
copper  (''Blue  Stone")  ;  two  and  one-half  pounds  carbonate  of 
soda  ;  one  and  one-half  pints  ammonia ;  thirty  gallons  water. 

To  be  doubly  sure  of  results,  duplicate  series  were  used.  In 
this  way  we  have  two  rows  in  different  parts  of  the  orchard  sprayed 
with  each  solution  ;  while  for  comparison  three  rows,  alternately 
with  these,  were  left  without  treatment. 

The  following  diagram  shows  the  relative  location  of  the  sprayed 
and  unsprayed  trees  : 


Solution 

A..  .. 

Check    . 

Solution 

B    ... 

u 

C  ... 

Check  . . 

Solution 

A... 

(( 

B.... 

Check   . 



Solution  C   . . . 

72 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 


Naturally  all  of  the  trees  were  not  equally  productive,  and  in  count- 
ing the  fruit  only  those  trees  which  were  under  approximately  the 
same  conditions  were  selected. 

In  this  connection,  about  one  barrel  of  fruit  from  each  of  thirt}'- 
eight  trees  was  counted,  and  without  going  into  details,  1  will  give, 
in  the  accompanying  table,  a  general  summary  of  the  results 
obtained  : 


r— ^-^ 

Cj  m 

C  <U 

r^ 

..     03 

K 

Cj 

5 

6 

6 

^^ 

<^  o 

Solution. 

p 

■J} 

III 

Remarks. 

A 

559 

171 

347 

41 

30.1 

93.0 

Average  of   8  trees. 

B   

583 
615 
628 

34 

32 

5 

305 
414 
239 

184 
169 
384 

6.1 

5.6 
0.9 

71.0 
73.5 
41.2 

c 

Check 

As  will  be  observed,  the  average  proportion  of  "No.  1"  fruit  on 
unsprayed  trees,  considering  fourteen  trees  in  all  parts  of  the 
orchard,  was  only  41.2  per  cent  of  the  crop,  while  the  average  pro- 
portion on  the  trees  sprayed  with  the  least  effective  solution  was 
seventy-one  per  cent,  a  gain  of  nearly  thirt}'  per  cent.  With  the 
most  effective  solution — the  modified  eau  celeste — this  difference  was 
much  more  marked,  amounting  to  nearly  fifty-two  per  cent. 

The  amount  of  fruit  absolutely  free  from  scab  is  not  as  large  as 
might  be  wished.  The  standard  adopted  in  sorting  the  fruit,  how- 
ever, was  very  rigid,  and  much  of  that  classed  as  "slightly  scabbed" 
was  in  reality  better  fruit  than  that  classed  as  "free." 

With  the  above  figures  in  view,  and  considering  the  fact  that  the 
results  are  in  direct  confirmation  of  those  obtained  last  year,  there 
would  appear  to  be  little  doubt  as  to  the  effectiveness  of  the  treat- 
ment when  the  work  is  properly  conducted. 

While  the  Experiment  Station  will  continue  its  work  of  combat- 
ing orchard  pests  of  various  descriptions,  I  hope  that  during  the 
coming  year  more  of  the  practical  orchardists  of  the  State  will  take 
the  matter  in  hand,  and  make  use  of  the  knowledge  already  gained. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  73 


AGEICULTURE   AND   HORTICULTURE   IX  THE   SCHOOLS. 

Under  this  general  subject  a  series  of  exercises  were  given  by 
Miss  M.  L.  Wilson  and  a  class  of  her  pupils  from  the  East  Auburn 
school.  The  general  obiect  was  to  illustrate  the  interest  pupils  take 
in  the  objects  of  nature,  especially  plant  life,  and  the  desirability  of 
introducing  the  study  of  the  elements  of  argiculture  into  the  schools 
of  the  State.  This  school  exercise  is  published  in  the  Report  of  the 
Board  of  Agriculture  and  we  take  pleasure  in  referring  our  readers 
to  it.     It  proved  one  of  the  most  popular  exercises  of  the  meeting. 

In  connection  with  the  general  subject  the  following  paper  was 
read  by  Miss  H.  M.  Merrill  of  Farmington  : 

STUDY   OF  PLAXT  LIFE   IN    SCHOOLS. 

By  Miss   H.   M.   Merrill,  First  Lady  Assistant,   Faimiuoton 
Xornial   School. 

In  presenting  a  few  points  with  reference  to  the  study  of  plant 
life,  I  trust  to  be  excused  from  looking  at  the  subject  from  the 
teacher's  stand- point,  considering  britfly  what  it  is  possible  to 
accomplish  in  the  remotest  cquntry  school.  A  consideration  that 
cannot  be  ignored  is  the  present  tendency  to  the  ovei -crowding  of 
school  courses.  Surely  the  period  plainly  intended  for  that  of  men- 
tal as  well  as  bodily  development  is  long  enough  for  acquiring  the 
essentials  that  will  best  fit  the  boy  and  girl  for  bis  and  her  work  in 
the  world.  What  these  essentials  shall  be  is  the  question  that  con- 
tinually confronts  the  educator,  and  as  new  conditions  shape  them- 
selves, the  demands  of  the  present  are  no  longer  satisfied  with  the 
requirements  of  the  past. 

It  is  no  longer  a  question  under  discussion,  that  elementary 
science  should  have  a  place  in  the  elementary  schools.  The  teach- 
ing of  science  has  woiked  its  way  from  the  high  school  to  the 
primary  grades,  and  has  there  found  its  proper  beginning.  That 
education  is  recognized  as  incomplete  that  doe*  not  introduce  the 
child  to  the  world  of  nature,  as  well  as  to  the  world  of  books,  and 
it  fails  of  its  most  practical  results  if  the  mind  is  not  quickened  to 
grasp  knowledge  through  the  senses  and  to  investigate,  to  some 
degree,  the  great  and  silent  forces  that  are  working  around  him. 

The  child,  when  he  enters  school,  is  a  little  bundle  of  animated 
curiosity,  bristling  with  interrogation  points  and  putting  out  feelers 


74  STATE   POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

in  all  directions.  Yet  how  often  this  healthy  activity,  which  should 
be  the  teacher's  safest  guide,  is  restrained  and  well-nigh  paralyzed 
to  his  incalculable  loss.  In  this  nature  study,  no  branch  presents 
so  wide  a  field  as  the  study  of  plant  life.  But  while  admitting,  its 
unquestioned  claims  to  a  place  in  the  school  course,  two  questions 
naturally  suggest  themselves  : 

1.  What  are  the  results  to  be  obtained  in  this  as  in  ot!  er 
branches  of  science  teaching? 

2.  What  particular  subjects  may  be  touched  upon  and  how? 
Let  us  consider  briefly  these   questions  in  their  reverse  order, 

finding  in  the  answer  to  the  second  some  light  thrown  upon  the  first. 
As  just  said  no  broader  field  presents  itself  in  elementary  science 
than  the  study  of  plant  life.  The  material  is  ever}'  where  accessible, 
and  interest  and  enthusiasm  cannot  Jail  to  be  aroused  under  the 
skilful  teacher.  Two  or  three  underlying  principles  should  always 
be  borne  in  mind  in  the  teaching.  P>ery  lesson  should  have  a  defi- 
nite purpose,  otherwise  the  lessons  soon  become  vague  and  discon- 
nected. There  should  be  real  observation  on  the  part  of  the  pupil, 
not  through  the  eye  of  the  teacher,  though  directed  and  guided  Vy 
her.  And  no  other  study  gives  wider  scope  for  careful,  skilful 
questioning. 

The  stud}'  of  the  plant  may  begin  at  any  point,  but  the  subject 
of  germination  naturally  suggests  itself  among  the  first  Pupils  of 
all  ages,  but  especially  children,  delight  to  learn  by  doing,  and 
some  simple  experiments,  such  as  are  suggested  in  Prof.  Goodall's 
little  pamphlet,  "Concerning  a  Few  Common  Plants,"  are  easily 
performed  and  very  helpful.  Select  a  few  seeds  as  the  corn,  bean 
and  pea,  and  spend  a  little  time  in  their  examination.  Let  the 
pupil  discover  how  a  tiny  plant  with  stem  and  leaves  is  folded  away 
in  the  seed  coats,  and  compare  the  three,  noting  differences  and 
resemblances.  In  the  meantime  in  a  few  deep  plates  or  flower  pots 
filled  with  clean  sand,  let  him  plant  a  few  seeds  of  each  kind  half 
an  inch  deep,  and  others  at  intervals  of  two  or  three  days  so  that 
when  all  have  started  three  stages  of  growth  will  be  represented. 
What  changes  have  taken  place  in  the  transition  from  the  hard,  dry 
seed  to  the  plant,  now  in  possession  of  all  the  parts  of  the  full 
grown  tree?  How  has  nourishment  been  supplied?  Whence  will 
it  come  henceforth?  What  conditions  have  been  necessary  to 
growth?  How  does  the  seedling  (  f  the  corn  differ  from  that  of  the 
pea  and  the  bean  from  both?     Some  seedlings  may  also  be  raised 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  75 

in  other  ways.  Lay  upon  a  plate  a  moistened  sheet  of  thick  blotting 
paper,  place  some  seeds  of  each  kind  upon  it,  and  over  these 
another  sheet  of  paper,  keeping  the  wh^le  moist  and  warm.  Place 
a  layer  of  cotton  batting  upon  a  tumbler  of  water  and  lay  a  few 
seeds  upon  this.  When  a  seedling  has  started  suspend  it  by  a 
thread  over  some  water  in  a  glass,  so  that  the  roots  dip  into  the 
water  while  the  seed-leaves  remain  above,  and  note  in  what  part  of 
the  root  growth  takes  place,  but  puncturing  it  at  regular  intervals 
with  a  needle  dipped  in  India  ink.  By  such  means  the  growth  of 
the  root  may  be  easily  traced  and  compared  with  that  of  the  stem. 
Such  simple  experiments  all  through  the  work  add  much  to  excite 
the  interest  and  quicken  the  observation. 

As  we  pass  to  the  parts  of  the  plants,  their  peculiar  forms  and 
their  relations  to  each  other,  the  facts  are  very  numerous  upon 
which  the  skilful  teacher  can  draw.  If  the  children  have  the  great 
advantage  of  living  in  the  country,  encourage  them  to  go'for  flowers 
to  learn  their  haunts  and  habits.  From  what  soil  does  the  flower 
spring?  What  conditions  does  it  require  as  regards  sun  and  shade, 
dryness  and  moisture?  What  enables  the  delicate  flowers  of  spring 
to  follow  so  closely  upon  the  frozen  footsteps  of  winter?  The  pecu- 
liarities of  different  plants,  their  habits,  as  illustrated  in  the  so-called 
sleep  of  flowers  and  their  movements,  visible  and  invisible,  as  shown 
in  the  coiling  of  tendrils,  or  the  quick  closing  of  the  leaves  of  the 
sensitive  plant,  suggest  subjects  of  which  space  permits  mention 
only  here. 

As  we  come  to  the  study  of  the  flower,  the  variations  of  color, 
form  and  growth,  in  which  may  still  be  traced  the  simple,  wonder- 
ful laws  of  development  that  are  the  same  for  the  tiniest  blossom  as 
the  most  brilliant,  we  open  to  a  chapter  of  which  we  may  well 
despair  of  reaching  the  end.  With  certain  principles  the  pupil 
should  always,  of  course,  become  familiar.  To  one  subject  only  I 
will  call  attention  in  this  connection,  the  relation  of  insects  to 
plants  in  the  work  of  fertilization.  This  is  strikingly  illustrated  in 
the  little  bluet  or  innocent  that  whitens  the  fields  in  early  summer. 
In  certain  clumps  of  flowers  the  long  ?tamens  are  found  with  the 
short  pistils,  in  others,  the  long  pistil  but  short  stamens,  so  that  the 
bee  in  his  flight  from  flower  to  flower  brushes  the  pollen  from  the 
long  stamens  of  one  flower  to  deposit  it  on  the  long  pistil  of  another, 
and  vice  versa.  Although  as  yet  but  imperfectly  understood  it  is  a 
subject  too  full  of  interest  and  importance  to  be  left  untouched. 


76  STATE    POMOLOGIOAL    SOCIETY. 

It  is  a  great  pity  that  so  little  attention  is  given  to  the  subject  of 
fruits.  The  study  of  the  plant  often  begun  in  the  spring,  fre- 
quently touches  very  briefly  upon  it,  if  at  all,  while  without  it  no 
complete  idea  of  plant  development  can  be  obtained.  From  the 
less  prominent  kinds,  the  winged  fruit  of  the  maple  and  elm,  or  the 
pod  of  the  milkweed,  to  the  apple,  pear  and  grape  the  forms  are 
varied  and  the  study  of  them  no  less  interesting  than  that  of  any 
other  feature.  The  classification  is  simple  aud  the  child  soon  learns 
to  distinguish  between  a  dry  fruit  and  a  fleshy  fruit,  a  stone  truit  or 
a  pome.  It  may  be  a  discovery  to  learn  that  the  strawberrj'  is 
not  a  berry,  but  the  orange  is  ;  that  the  raspberry  and  blackberry 
are  clusters  of  stone  fruits  ;  and  that  the  fig  is  a  flower-stalk  grown 
pulpy  ;  and  every  such  discovery  is  a  healthy  stimulant  to  further 
progress.  The  fruits  of  our  own  State  should  claim  the  first  atten- 
tion. What  are  they?  What  fruits  are  sent  from  the  State?  What 
are  some -of  the  means  of  obtaining  new  varieties?  It  is  interest- 
ing to  note  in  this  connection  how  large  a  proportion  of  our  fruits 
belong  to  the  Rose  family. 

Two  suggestions  in  regard  to  ways  of  working  may  not  be  out  of 
place  just  here,  the  use  of  drawing  and  the  value  of  school  collec- 
tions. Drawing  should  properly  go  hand  in  hand  with  the  study  of 
the  plant  from  the  first  lessons.  What  the  pupil  has  not  seen  he 
cannot  represent,  what  he  can  express  correctly  by  the  simplest  out- 
line, he  has  made  his  own.  No  exercise  serves  like  this  to  quicken 
observation,  to  fix  impressions.  The  chief  value  of  collections  lies 
in  the  making.  Collections  of  seeds,  of  different  kinds  of  wood,  of 
pressed  flowers,  of  different  forms  of  leaves,  represent  a  large 
amount  of  knowledge  that  would  be  gained  in  no  other  way,  and  the 
encouragement  of  a  most  excellent  habit. 

To  our  first  question  then,  for  what  results  may  we  look  in  such 
a  line  of  work  as  has  been  so  hastily  outlined,  I  answer : 

1st.  It  aff'ords  the  best  training  for  the  observation  and  the  forma- 
tion of  careful  habits  of  investigation  and  thoughtful  judgment. 
That  much  is  due  to  training  is  shown  in  the  advantage  that  the 
child  from  the  city  school  often  has  over  the  country  boy  or  girl. 
Under  the  skilful  teacher  the  pupil  learns  to  observe,  to  compare, 
to  verify,  and  to  draw  conclusions.  He  finds  he  must  often  go 
back  to  correct  imperfect  impressions  and  that  his  hasty  conc'usions 
must  be  exchanged  for  those  resting  upon  a  wider  basis  of  fact. 

2nd.  It  increases  his  capacity  for  enjoyment.  Whether  his 
afler-woik  lies  in  this  direction  or  leads  him  far  from  it,  he  can  never 


STATE    POAIOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  77 

forget  the  iuterest  once  fully  awakened  in  the  green  and  growing 
world  around  him.  To  know  bj'  name  the  flowers,  shrubs  and  trees 
of  his  early  home,  is  tc  feel  an  interest  in  every  flower  that  grows 
by  field  or  road  side. 

3d.  It  puts  him  into  possession  of  facts  of  practical  value.  No 
true  scientific  knowledge  ever  comes  amiss.  He  has  laid  a  founda- 
tion that  wiH  be  directly  or  indirectly  useful  to  him,  in  proportion  as 
he  carries  on  his  work  in  this  direction. 

No  features  in  the  educational  progress  of  to-day  compare  in 
interest  with  the  new  departures  in  practical  and  scientific  training. 
The  cooking  school  has  been  tested  and  has  not  been  found  want- 
ing. The  manual  training  school  has  been  found  to  fill  a  need 
long  recognized,  but  which  no  line  of  work  until  this  has  supplied. 
But  certain  countries  of  Europe  are  in  advance  of  us  in  this  respect, 
and  have  put  the  practical  study  of  plant  life  on  a  level  with  man- 
ual training.  1  think  I  am  quoting  correctly  from  a  speech  by  Dr. 
Rounds,  in  saying  that  there  are  20,000  school  gardens  in  Austria, 
and  that  the  experiment  has  been  successfull}'  tried  in  France. 

From  the  study  of  the  plant  in  the  schoolroom  to  its  actual  care 
and  cultivation  in  the  garden  is  certainly  a  step  at  the  thought  of 
which  we  take  breath.  Such  work  requires  specially  trained  teachers, 
appliances  and  funds.  So  have  cooking  schools  and  manual  train- 
ing schools  required  all  these,  and  in  othtr  states,  if  not  in  our  own, 
are  permanent  features  of  the  school  system.  In  the  mean  time  a 
step  has  been  taken  in  advance  of  merely  schoolroom  work,  or  more 
correctly  speaking,  the  work  has  made  some  progress  beyond  the 
bounds  of  the  schoolroom.  I  have  been  interested  in  reading  the 
reports  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society  and  of  some 
results  secured  in  the  direction  of  window  gardening  and  the  care  of 
plants  by  children.  But  I  have  been  more  interested  in  the  efforts 
ot  this  society  in  our  own  Stat«  the  past  year  in  connection  with  the 
State  Fair.  Prizes  were  offered  to  the  pupils  of  high  schools  for 
collections  of  pressed  flowers  and  a  window  garden  department  was 
established  for  the  purpose  of  interesting  children  in  the  care  of 
flowers.  Plants  were  furnished  to  the  pupils  in  Auburn  and  Lew- 
iston  with  directions  for  their  care,  which  devolved  wholly  upon 
the  children,  and  on  Children's  Day  an  exhibit  was  made  with  results 
that  proved  the  plan  practicable  and  satisfactory. 

If  we  could  realize  at  once  the  millennium  in  our  schools  we  might 
possibly  be  the  better  for  it.     But  such  an  experience  is  not  in  store 


78  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

for  US,  and  in  the  meantime  the  day  of  small  things  is  not  that  of 
unimportant  ones.  Are  we  who  are  teachers  enthusiastic  and  wide 
awake  to  take  advantage  of  ever}'  resource  that  may  supplement  our 
work?  Are  we  interested  in  all  lines  of  advance?  Do  we  know 
what  can  be  done  and  is  done  in  other  schools  and  other  states  ?  If 
we  have  under-estimated  the  importance  of  this  work,  surely  it  is 
worth  our  while  to  test  its  merits  and  it  will  be  found  the  Book  of 
Revelation  indeed. 


THE   APPLE  IX  COOKERY. 

By  Miss  Anna  Barroavs,  Priueipal  of  the  Cooking  Department  of  the 
School  of  Domestic  Science,  Boston. 

The  cooker}-  of  the  apple  is  interwoven  with  the  principles  of  all 
cookery,  therefore  this  subject  might  be  expanded  into  a  good-sized 
cook- book.  As  this  is  impossible  we  can  take  but  a  bird's  eye 
view  of  the  apple  in  its  relation  to  human  life.  It  has  been  truly 
said,  "■There  is  no  fruit  in  temperate  climates,  so  universally 
esteemed  and  so  extensively  cultivated,  nor  is  there  any  which  is  so 
closely  identified  with  the  social  habits  of  the  human  species  as  the 
apple." 

We  shall  all  agree,  that  even  if  the  apple  had  no  commercial 
value,  it  would  have  as  good  claim  to  existence  as  other  ornamental 
trees.  The  masses  of  white  petals,  shading  into  pink,  that  deck 
the  trees  in  May,  make  them  worthy  rivals  of  their  cousins  —  the 
June  roses. 

"As  the  apple  tree  among  the  trees  of  the  wood,  so  is  my 
beloved  among  the  sons,"  says  the  song  of  Solomon.  Its  fresh 
green  foliage  affords  pleasant  shade  in  midsummer,  while  the  ripen- 
ing fruit  in  autumn  shows  a  greater  variety  and  richness  of  color  than 
that  of  the  maple  or  any  merely  foliage  tree.  Even  in  the  winter, 
when  the  foliage  and  fruit  have  departed,  the  knurled,  crotched 
branches,  with  their  snowy  covering,  make  the  apple  tree  a  pictur- 
esque object  in  the  landscape. 

The  apple  probably  boasts  a  more  ancient  lineage  than  any  other 
fruit,  though  it  is  decidedly  doubtful  whether  it  was  the 
"Primeval  iutertlicted  fruit  tliat  wou 
Foud  Eve,  iu  hapless  hour,  to  taste  and  die." 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY,  ,    79 

The  word  apple  is  ofteu  used  to  describe  a  round  object,  as  the 
apple  of  the  eye;  Dickens  mentions  apple-faced  children.  The 
derivalioD  of  the  word  is  uncertain,  it  niay  signify  watery  fruit, 
or  a  round  bod^*. 

The  apple  tree,  Pijrus  3falus,  flourishes  in  almost  every  country 
within  the  temperate  zones,  therefore  it  is  conspicuous  in  the  fables 
of  every  race  and  is  the  popular  fruit  in  poems,  proverbs,  super- 
stitions and  pictures.  There  is  much  interesting  literature  connected 
with  the  apple,  but  this  paper  must  be  devoted  to  its  practical 
aspect,  its  food  value. 

Wise  was  the  Englishman  who  once  said  to  some  of  his  country- 
men :  "Had  you  but  given  to  the  improvement  of  your  apples  a 
tenth  part  of  the  pains  it  cost  you  to  naturalize  those  four  species 
of  grapes,  how  much  more  substantial  glory  you  would  have  won." 
80  we  might  say,  if  American  housekeepers  had  given  half  the 
attention  to  the  apples  that  they  have  bestowed  upon  fancy  dishes 
in  which  oranges,  lemons  and  bananas  figure,  our  country  might 
have  gained  much  in  health.  Is  it  not  a  reflection  upon  our  New 
England  orchards  that  oranges  are  often  cheaper  than  apples  even 
in  winter?  Because  the  apple  is  so  abundant  in  our  land  it  is  within 
reach  of  the  humblest  lamily  and  it  may  appear  in  such  varied 
forms  that  none  need  ever  tire  of  it. 

True  there  is  a  large  percentage  of  water  revealed  in  a  chemical 
analysis  of  the  apple,  but  it  is  also  said  to  have  a  larger  per  cent 
of  phosphorous  than  any  other  fruit ;  and  there  are  other  double 
distilled  essences  of  the  sunlight  and  glorious  air  in  which  the  fruit 
has  hung  for  months,  combined  with  the  forcegiving  elements  of 
mother  earth  drawn  up  by  the  roots  of  the  sturdy  tree. 

And  as  for  water — is  it  not  by  far  the  larger  part  of  our  bodies? 
we  refuse  to  recognize  this  fact  and  persist  in  overloading  them  with 
too  solid  foods^until  we  groan  with  rheumatism  or  some  vital  organ 
rebels. 

May  not^lhe^apple  be  as  beneficial  as  the  much  lauded  grape- 
cure?  Some  one  has  observed  that  apple  lovers  are  usually  people 
with  healthy  livers  and  therefore  very  amiable.  An  old  proverb 
says  :  "It  will  beggar  a  doctor  to  live  where  orchards  thrive."  No 
other  fruit  is  so  deserving  of  the  cook's  good  opinion,  in  that  it  is  to 
be  had  at  all  seasons.  From  the  early  summer  sweetings  around 
to  the  hardy  .russet  in  the  late  spring  and  summer  there  is  always 
aome  variety  inj  prime  condition.     A  fruit  which  has  been  in  con- 


80  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

stant  use  for  generations  must  have  be^n  quite  thoroughly  experi- 
mented upon  and  yet  there  is  room  for  new  combinations  to  be 
invented. 

So  many  are  the  dishes  in  which  the  apple  is  a  principal  ingre- 
dient that  they  must  here  be  described  in  groups  rather  than  in 
detail.  The  cookery  of  the  apple  is  dependent  upon  the  funda- 
mental laws  of  the  art.  Much  depends  upon  our  choice  of  apples, 
the  so-called  '^cooking"  apples  cannot  give  the  best  results  and  are 
no  more  to  be  chosen  than  inferior,  stale  eggs  or  rancid  butter.  We 
have  much  to  learn  as  to  the  varieties  best  suited  to  different 
culinary  purposes  ;  besides  the  flavor  and  degree  of  acidity  of  an 
apple  its  general  texture  is  also  to  be  considered.  In  general,  for 
ordinary  use  it  is  best  to  select  apples  that  are  solid  and  heavy,  not 
mealy  but  juicy  and  full  of  sparkle,  neither  very  large  nor  the 
smallest  in  size.  To  attempt  to  use  mean  apples  for  cooking  results 
in  a  loss  of  time  and  temper,  sugar  and  spice. 

The  roasted  or  baked  apple  ranks  highest  in  popular  estimation. 

"The  apples  sputtered  in  a  row, 
And  close  at  hand  the  basket  stood 
With  uuts  from  brown  October's  wood." 

The  modern  fireplaces  give  an  opportunity  to  revive  the  old  fashion 
of  hanging  the  apples  by  a  string  before  the  open  fire,  but  this  is 
oftener  done  for  a  luncheon  than  for  table  use. 

A  baked  apple  is  delicious  if  properly  prepared  whether  sweet  or 
sour.  Ic  should  be  wiped,  perhaps  washed,  the  skin  better  not  be 
cut.  Earthen  or  granite  ware  baking  dishes  should  be  used  as  tin 
or  iron  injure  the  flavor  of  the  fruit.  The  oven  should  be  hot 
enough  to  change  the  apple  juices  into  steam  and  puflf  out  every 
cell  till  it  forms  a  frothy,  pulpy  mass.  If  there  is  danger  of  the 
escaping  juices  burning  on  the  baking  dish,  a  little  water  should  be 
added.  The  advantage  of  retaining  the  skin  is  that  it  holds  the 
steam  and  thus  really  hastens  the  process.  Sometimes,  however, 
the  skins  are  imperfect  and  we  prefer  to  remove  them  and  also  the 
cores  and  to  fill  the  centre  with  spiced  sugar  or  bas'^e  them  with 
butter  and  sugar  which  glazes  the  outside.  Then  very  juicy,  apples 
thus  prepared  may  be  placed  on  round  pieces  of  bread  which  absorb 
the  syrup  and  are  to  bo  served  with  the  fruit. 

Baked  apples  may  be  canned  in  a  thin  syrup  and  reheated  when 
the  jar  is  opened.  The  pulp  of  snowy  baked  apples  beaten  with 
whites  of  eggs  may  appear  as  apple  snow  or  floating  island  com- 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  81 

bined  with  cream  or  soft  custard.     The  'lamb's  wool'  mentioned  by 
old  writers  was  a  mixture  of  this  frothy  apple  pulp  with  spiced  ale. 

Halt  way  between  the  baked  apple  and  apple  sauce  stands  a 
simple,  yet  beautiful  dish  called  by  a  French  name,  a  compote. 
The  apples  are  to  be  cored  and  pared  without  quartering,  and 
cooked  slowly  in  enough  heavy  sugar  syrup  until  they  are  soft,  but 
not  broken  ;  then  drain  and  dry,  slightly,  in  a  moderate  oven  with 
the  door  open,  occasionally  basting  with  the  syrup.  The  spaces 
where  the  cores  were  may  then  be  filled  with  apple  jelly  and  the 
whole  sprinkled  with  granulated  sugar.  Thus  prepared  the  apples 
may  be  served  with  any  simple  pudding  or  custard  for  dessert,  or 
as  preserves  for  tea,  or  with  mushes  for  breakfast. 

Quarters  of  large  apples  look  well  cooked  in  the  same  way.  If 
well  cleaned  before  paring,  the  best  portions  of  skins  and  cores 
should  be  covered  with  cold  water  and  cooked  until  the  flavor  and 
pink  color  may  be  strained  off  with  the  water.  This  is  ready  to  use 
as  the  foundation  for  the  syrup  for  preserving,  or  for  a  pink  pud- 
ding sauce  for  the  next  apple  pudding,  or  may  be  made  into  jell}'. 
The  skin  in  some  form  should  be  cooked  with  apples  for  canning, 
as  it  adds  much  to  the  flavor  and  nutritive  value.  The  skin  may 
be  left  on  the  fruit  for  mince  or  other  pies  where  it  is  chopped  or 
sliced,  and  it  is  not  out  of  place  in  puddings. 

There  is  no  form  of  sauce  much  better  than  the  baked  apple 
sauce,  where  big  quarters  of  fruit  are  packed  in  earthen  jars  with 
brown  sugar  or  molasses,  covered  closely  and  baked  slowly  in  a 
moderate  heat  like  that  of  the  old  brick  ovens  or  modern  Aladdin, 
until  the  contents  of  the  jar  have  shrunk  to  half  their  original  bulk 
and  are  rich,  red  and  luscious. 

The  white,  pulpy  apple  sauce  which  is  cooked  quickly  and  made 
smooth  by  frequent  stirring  and  beating  is  best  suited  for  a  meat 
sauce,  if  not  too  highly  sweetened.  An  apple  stuffing  is  excellent 
with  any  rich,  fa:  meat  like  goose  or  pork;  for  this,  the  pulp  of 
cooked  apples  is  mixed  with  a  few  bread  crumbs  and  seasoned  with 
sage  and  onions.  A  leg  of  pork  boned  and  filled  with  apple  stuffing 
is  suitably  garnished  with  baked  sour  apples.  Veal  or  beef  stews 
are  often  improved  by  the  acid  flavor  of  the  apple  and  it  may  be 
added  to  soups  or  sauces.  Mrs.  Mary  H.  Abel,  author  of  the  Lamb 
prize  essay  on  "Sanitary  and  Economic  Cooking,"  well  says, 
"Fruits  seasoned  with  meat  juices  and  fat  instead  of  with  sugar  are 
not  enough  known  among  us." 


82  STATE   POMOLOGICAL   SOCIETY. 

A  dish  of  fried  apples  is  an  old-time  dainty  too  good  to  be  allowed 
to  go  out  of  fashion.  The  apples  are  cut  in  rings  or  thick  slices  and 
fried  in  the  fat  from  sweet,  fat  salt  pork,  onions  may  be  combined 
with  them,  a  tough  apple  is  best  for  this  purpose.  Or,  the  slices 
may  be  fried  in  butter,  sprinkled  with  sugar  and  served  on  toast, 
or  they  may  be  broiled  with  beef  steak  or  with  bacon  and  thus 
seasoned  with  the  fat  of  the  meat.  Apple  fritters  are  but  a  varia- 
tion of  the  fried  apples  ;  the  apples  should  first  be  cored  then  pared 
and  cut  in  four  or  five  slices,  then  they  are  rolled  in  flour,  dipped  in 
batter  and  fried.  They  look  very  much  like  a  doughnui  with  a  hole 
in  the  centre. 

W.  M.  Williams  says  in  his  chemistry  of  cookery,  "When  thin 
slices  (of  apple)  are  immersed  in  a  bath  of  melted  fat  at  a  tem- 
perature of  about  300°  F.  the  water  of  their  juice  is  suddenly  boiled  ; 
and  as  this  water  is  contained  in  a  multitude  of  little  bladder  like 
cells,  they  burst  and  the  whole  structure  is  puffed  out  to  a  most 
delicate  lightness,  far  more  suitable  for  following  solid  meats  than 
sodden  fruit  enveloped  in  heavy,  indigestible  pudding  paste. 
Another  advantage  is  that  with  proper  apparatus  the  fritters  can  be 
prepared  and  cooked  in  about  one-tenth  of  the  time  required  for  the 
preparation  and  cooking  of  an  apple  pudding  or  pie." 

There  are  hundreds  of  recipes  for  apple  puddings  to  be  found  in 
the  cook-books,  but  we  shall  find  that  they  may  all  be  classified 
under  a  few  general  formulas. 

1.  Apples  in  combination  with  starchy  foods  as  rice,  tapioca, 
sago,  macaroni,  bread  and  cracker  crumbs. 

2.  Apple  doughs,  such  as  dumplings,  short  cakes,  pies,  &c. 

3.  Apples  combined  with  custards  and  creams. 

These  different  t^'pes  are  also  more  or  less  united.  There  is  a 
too  common  idea  that  there  is  no  nourishment  in  puddings,  on  the 
contrary  many  of  them  are  very  substantial  food.  The  pudding 
shall  be  chosen  to  supplement  the  rest  of  the  meal,  a  light,  delicate 
dessert  with  heavy  meats  and  the  richer  puddings  when  the  first 
course  is  less  "filling." 

For  the  apple  sago  or  tapioca  puddings  the  apples  are  cored  and 
pared,  placed  in  a  buttered  pudding  dish  and  the  centres  filled  with 
sugar  in  which  has  been  mixed  a  little  spice  and  salt.  Then  pour 
over  the  tapioca  or  sago  which  has  already  been  cooked  for  a  half 
hour,  with  five  times  its  bulk  of  boiling  water.  Bake  until  the  apples 
are  perfectly  soft,  turning  each  one  over  in  the  tapioca  when   half 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  83 

done.  Slrained  apple  pulp  or  jelly  ma}-  be  put  with  tapioca  cooked 
in  less  water  and  the  whole  moulded  and  served  cold  with  cream. 
Cooked  or  chopped  apples  are  also  mixed  with  crumbs  or  slices  of 
bread  or  cooked  mushes. 

There  are  many  easy  combinations  possible  between  the  ordinary 
quick  biscuit  dough^and  apples.  The  dough  may  be  made  light 
with  cream  of  tartar  and  soda,  or  baking  powder  or  with  sour  milk 
and  soda.  A  pint  of  fl)ur  makes  enough  for  a  small  family,  one 
tablespoonful  of  shortening  may  be  used  with  this  quantity.  The 
dough  should  be  as  soft  as  can  be  easily  handled.  Roll  out  till  one- 
half  inch  thick.  Tnis  is  a  suitably  crust  for  apple  dumplings,  either 
steamed  or  baked,  though  the  latter  might  be  made  richer.  '  Or  the 
dough  may  be  spread]with  cooked  or  chopped  apples  sprinkled  with 
spiced  sugar  and^roUed  like  a  jelh'  cake  and  steamed  for  an  hour. 
When  the  time  is  limited,  cut  the  roll  in  inch  slices,  stand  on  end 
and  steam  or  bake  for  thirty  minutes.  The  dough  may  be  made 
softer,  an  egg  added,  the  cut  apples  stirred  in  and  the  mixture 
steamed  in  cups  or  in  one  large  pan. 

Apples  may  be  cooked  in  a  pan  with  a  layer  of  this  crust  over 
the  top  ;  when  ready  to  serve,  reverse  on  a  plate  so  the  crust  will  be 
at  the  bottom. 

An  apple  shortcake  is  far  better  than  strawberry  shortcake  out  of 
season,  and  the  same  dough  with  a  second  tablespoojiful  of  butter 
will  serve  for  that. 

A  similar  combination  is  the  old-time  pandowdy,  where  the  apples, 
unsweetened,  were  baked  in  deep  pans  lined  and  covered  with 
crust.  When  done,  the  top  crust  was  removed,  the  apples  spiced 
and  sweetened  and  alternate  layers  of  crust  and  apples  piled  high 
on  a  platter. 

The  shortcake"^and  pandowdy  are  the  connecting  links  between 
the  apple  puddings  and  apple  pies,  of  which  there  are  many  varie- 
ties. There  are  pies  with  sliced  apples,  stewed  apples,  pies  sweet- 
ened with  molasses,  mince  pies,  Marlboro  pies,  turnovers  and  fried 
pies.  None^of  these  puddings  or  pies  can  appear  at  their  best 
unless  wise  heads  and  deft  fingers  have  been  used  as  well  as  good 
materials.  Much  depends  on  attention  to  apparently  trifling  details 
and  too  often  these  are  ignored.  A  loyal  American  woman  has 
said:  "During  years  of  foreign  travel  I  have  never  met  a  dish  so 
perfect  as  the   American   apple  pie  can  be." 


84  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

Some  of  the  apple  custards  and  creams  have  already  been  referred 
to.  Apples  preserved  in  syrup  may  be  moulded  with  the  help  of 
gelatine  and  served  with  cream  or  custard.  A  custard  may  be 
poured  over  apples  prepared  as  for  the  tapioca  pudding  and  baked 
until  the  apples  are  soft  and  the  custard  firm.  The  apples  may  be 
partly  steamed  or  baked  before  the  custard  is  added. 

Grated  apples  added  to  a  thin  frosting  make  an  appetizing  filling 
for  a  layer  cake.  Apple  sherbet  and  apple  ice  cream  are  possible 
but  the  apples  are  not  at  their  best  when  ices  are  most  desirable. 

While  the  best  apples  are  self-flavored,  if  we  must  use  crabbed 
or  insipid  fruit  it  is  much  impioved  by  the  addition  of  spices.  Gin- 
ger root,*  whole  cloves,  allspice  or  cinnamon  may  be  cooked  with 
preserved  apples  ;  ground  spice  injures  the  appearance  of  the  fruit. 
Clove  was  much  used  in  the  old  recipes  for  apple  cookery  ;  salt  is 
an  important  flavor  for  most  fruits  ;  butter  is  often  used  where  a 
little  salt  would  do  as  well;  a  hint  of  almond  always  harmonizes 
with  apples  since  »he  same  flavor  is  to  be  found  in  the  seeds  ;  lemon 
juice  is  especially  ustfui  in  the  spring  when  the  apples  have  lost 
their  life  and  sparkle. 

A  pleasant  beverage  for  the  invalid  is  made  bj  pouring  boiling 
water  over  raw  apples  cored  but  sliced  without  paring  ;  when  the 
water  is  cold  strain,  sweeten  and  flavor  if  desired.  The  pulp  of  a 
wasted  apple  can  be  used  in  the  same  way  and  the  water  in  which 
dried  apple  is  soaked  is  also  agreeable.  The  expressed  and  fer- 
mented juice  of  the  apple  has  doubtless  been  the  means  of  ruining 
many  orchards  and  their  owners.  Vinegar  is  a  useful  commodity 
but  probably  if  we  used  more  fruit  we   should   want  fewer  pickles. 

Hitherto  cider  has  seemed  to  be  the  only  use  for  the  refuse  or 
surplus  of  the  apple  crop.  As  the  quality  of  the  fruit  is  steadily 
improving,  and  our  knowledge  of  cookery  increasing,  jellies  and 
other  delicacies  will,  ultimately,  take  the  place  of  the  fermented 
product  of  waste  fruit. 

Count  Rumford,  one  of  the  pioneers  in  scientific  cookery,  said  : 
"The  number  of  inhabitants  who  may  be  supported  in  any  country 
upon  its  internal  produce  depends  about  as  much  upon  the  state  of 
the  art  of  cookery  as  upon  that  of  agriculture  ;  but  if  cookery  be  of 
so  much  importance,  it  certainly  should  be  studied  with  the  greatest 
care  ;  cookery  and  agriculture  are  arts  of  civilized  nations,  savages- 
understand  neither  of  them." 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  85 

In  these  dajs  of  concentrated  or  condensed  foods  is  it  not  advisa- 
ble to  put  apples  in  a  more  convenient  shape  for  transportation  and 
immediate  use  than  has  jet  been  done?  Diied  apples  have  been 
prominent  in  the  past  but  are  now  superseded  by  the  evaporated 
fruit.  In  the  Boston  market  the  sales  of  sun-dried  or  string  dried 
apples  amount  to  practically  nothing,  while  15,000  to  20,000  cases 
of  evaporated  apples,  or  nearly  one  million  pounds  (1,000,000)  are 
sold  in  a  single  year. 

The  canned  apples  are  extensively  used,  from  15,000  to  20,000 
cans  with  a  dozen  gallon  cans  in  each  case  being  sold  in  Boston 
yearly.  There  are  but  few  quart  cans  in  the  market.  Apples  in 
this  shape  are  used  chiefly  in  restaurants  aid  large  establishments 
not  yet  having  found  their  way  into  private  houses  to  any  extent. 
This  is  partially  due  to  the  careless  fashion  in  which  they  are  often 
put  up  and  to  the  large  size  cans. 

Is  it  not  possible  that  a  higher  grade  of  canned  apples  would  be 
more  satisfactory  to  the  general  purchaser  and  more  profitable  to 
the  packer?  We  have  also  much  to  learn  as  to  the  best  method  of 
developing  the  flavors  of  different  varieties  of  apples.  Some  are 
better  suited  to  canning,  others  would  make  a  smooth,  rich  marma- 
lade or  apple  butter,  and  yet  others  would  be  more  satisfactory'  for 
jelly.  Why  should  not  apples  be  preserved  or  crystallized  and  made 
into  dainty  confectioqs  as  well  as  plums  or  pineapples? 

The  apple  is  useful  as  a  basis  for  more  expensive  and  more  highly 
flavored  fruits.  A  single  quince,  for  example,  combined  with  half 
a  dozen  apples  will  give  its  distinctive  flavor  to  the  whole. 

Is  there  not  an  opportunity  here  for  women  to  earn  more  than  a 
livelihood,  provided  they  are  equipped  with  suitable  training  and 
proper  utensils?  Would  not  such  an  occupation  be  more  desirable 
than  sale  work  ?  An  increased  manufacture  of  home  made  apple 
jelly,  marmalade  or  apple  butter  might  be  a  twofold  benefit  to  this 
State,  providing  work  for  its  people  at  home  and  putting  the  apple 
crop  in  convenient  form  for  transportation.  The  State  and  county 
agricultural  societies  should  encourage  such  industries  by  ofl^ering 
special  premiums  for  exhibits  in  this  work  in  the  woman's  depart- 
ment. 


86  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 


FLORICULTURE. 
By  Mrs.  Alonzo  Towle,  Freedom,  N.  H. 

I  am  very  sorry  that  your  wives  are  not  represented  here  b}'  large 
numbers,  to-night.  Am  gratified  that  we  have  a  goodly  number  of 
brothers.  Almost  the  first  quer}'  that  will  greet  you  at  home  will 
be  :  What  have  you  to  tell  me?  What  of  your  meeting  at  Augusta? 
As  I  cannot  speak  to  them  face  to  face,  from  necessity  I  will  talk 
with  them  by  you  and  your  yearly  report.  The  first  section^will  be 
a  '•  special"  to  farmers'  wives,  or  countrywomen.  The  second,  to 
all  whom  it  concerns.  The  most  unsatisfactory  part  of^ flower  gar- 
dening, as  we  have  been  accustomed  to  do  it,  has  been  the  very 
short  time  we  have  had  to  enjoy  the  fruit  of  our  labor,  ere  the  frost 
has  spoiled  the  beauty  of  our  blossoms. 

Only  from  about  the  middle  of  August  u-jtil  the  last  of  September 
can  we  reckon  on  their  biightness,  as  we  may  always  be  on  the 
lookout  for  the  frosts  even  at  that  early  time.  We  have  toiled  and 
planned  all  the  spring  and  early  summer  to  have  our  pleasure 
snatched  from  us  unceremoniously.  To  avoid  this  disappointment 
we  should  plan  for  flowers  all  the  season  around.  We  can  begin  in 
the  autumn  by  preparing  our  beds.  Fertilize  them  well  with  well 
pulverized  domestic  fertilizer,  rake  it  well  into  the  soil.  Fix  one 
bed  exclusivel}'  for  spring  blooming  bulbs,  crocus,  tulips,  hyacinths, 
jonquils,  snowdrops,  etc.  If  we  have  not  courage  to  start  out  with 
them  all,  we  can  begin  with  a  dozen  crocuses  and  the  same  number 
of  tulips.  If  we  are  pleased  with  these  we  can  enlarge  our  number 
and  variety  the  following  autumn.  Crocuses  will  cost  from  ten  to 
twenty  cents  per  dozen.  Tulips,  by  the  dozen,  from  twenty-five 
cents  upward  as  far  as  we  care  to  go  in  fine  varieties.  Hyacinths 
range  from  five  cents  to  thirty-five  each.  Freesias  from  thirty  to 
seventy-five  cents  per  dozen.  Jonquils  from  twenty-five  to  fifty 
cents  by  the  dozen.  These  would  bloom  in  May  in  our  climate, 
unless  we  should  have  a  very  earl}'  spring  when  they  might  come  out 
in  April.  Thus  we  begin  the  season  by  having  our  bulb  bed  lor 
May.  In  June  we  have  roses,  of  which  every  farmer's  wife  should 
have  a  plenteous  variety.  The  common,  old  fashioned  sorts  are 
pretty  enough  for  any  one, — the  White,  Blush,  Damask,  Cinnamon^ 
Yellow  and  the  climbers.     If  we  have  time  and  wish  so  to  do,  there 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  87 

is  no  reason  why  we  should  not  deal  with  the  hybrid  perpetuals,  as 
we  may  without  fear  of  failure.  To  keep  company  with  the  roses 
and  if  3'ou  choose,  to  make  a  border  for  your  rose  bed,  there  is  no 
herbaceous  plant  that  will  give  so  much  lasting  satisfaction  as  the 
Sweet  William,  in  the  variegated  kinds.  They  grow  with  very  little 
care  and  preserve  their  flowers  for  weeks  in  a  state  of  perfection. 
The  person  who  loves  showy  flowers  would  do  well  to  have  along 
with  these,  a  bed  of  peonies.  Their  nodding  biightness  is  very 
attractive  to  many. 

These  will  hold  their  own  very  well  until  the  pansies  and  petunias 
begin  to  blossom.  Now  we  shall  have  to  go  back  a  little  to  consider 
our  seedlings.  The  best  way  to  get  our  plants  is  by  sowing  good 
seed,  unless  we  wish  particu'ar  varieties.  If  a  plant  has  been 
crossed  with  some  other,  or  hybridized  as  we  may  better  say,  the 
seed  of  that  plant'you  cannot  be  sure  of.  It  may  produce  what  you 
want,  so  we  are  told  by  seedmen,  but  3'ou  can't  get  a  Baldwin  apple 
tree  if  you  plant  all  the  seeds  you  can  fiud.  The  seed  partakes  of 
the  vitalized  and  fertilizing  qualities  of  the  root  and  not  of  the 
branch.  If  a  general  variety  of  pansies,  verbenas,  petunias,  etc.,  is 
wanted  the  better  way  is  to  sow  good  new  seed  each  spring.  Expe- 
rience will  teach  us  man3*  things  that  we  can  not  learn  from  any 
other  source  but  perhaps  one  person's  trials  and  attempts  may  help 
others  over  many  little  petty  annoyances.  The  most  of  us  like  to 
have  a  part  of  our  seedlings  bloom  early.  If  we  do  have  them  ready 
for  blooming  by  the  last  of  .June  or  first  of  Joly  we  must  either 
grow  them  iu  a  hot  bed  or  some  other  place  where  the  temperature 
is  kept  high  and  they  can  be  driven  along  the  road  to  life  and 
activity.  I  have  what  I  call  my  forcing  shelf.  A  shelf  put  up  in  a 
sunny  window  in  the  kitchen,  up  as  high  as  it  can  be  placed  and 
catch  the  sun's  warmth.  The  seeds  germinate  quickly  as  the 
elevated  position  and  giving  them  a  good  draught  of  warm  water 
every  morning  soon  do  the  work.  They  must  scon  after  coming 
up  through  the  soil,  be  transferred  to  a  place  of  lower  temperature 
as  they  will  grow  so  fast  they  will  not  be  able  to  hold  their  own 
heads  up  in  a  short  time  if  you  do  not.  Pansies,  petunias,  zinnias, 
in  fact  anything  that  we  wish  early  can  be  as  nicely  grown  there  as 
in  a  hot  bed,  the  only  precaution  needful  to  mention  is,  don't  try 
too  many.  Take  just  enough  to  give  a  collection  for  one  flower  bed 
for  July.  Sweet  peas  must  be  sown  as  soon  as  the  snow  is  off.  Dig 
a  drill  eight  inches  deep, fill  in  one  inch  or  more  of  well  rotted  fertilizer, 


88  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

cover  this  with  an  inch  of  soil, sow  a  dozen  and  a  half  to  a  foot.  If  they 
all  germinate  they  may  be  thinned  out  to  a  dozen.  They  need  much 
moisture  all  the  season  through.  Good,  rich  soil  will  root  them 
well,  as  this  is  necessary  if  we  have  good  plants.  There  is  a  class 
of  plants  which  it  will  be  of  no  avail  to  sow  early,  unless  they  can 
be  kept  at  a  high  temperature.  They  are  of  tropical  origin  and 
need  that  the  soil  shall  be  thoroughly  heated  and  kept  so,  for  them 
to  start  at  all.  Last  year  I  planted  some  seeds  in  May  ;  concluded 
they  were  not  good  and  gave  up  thinking  about  them.  July's  hot 
sun  brought  them  all  up,  thriving  and  brilliant.  In  this  class  we 
find  Portulacas,  Balsams,  Amaranths  and  Zinneas.  The  soil  in 
which  anv  and  all  seeds  are  sown  should  be  light  and  well  pulver- 
ized ;  cover  thin  to  about  their  own  depth.  Boxes  are  better  than 
pots  for  sowing  seed.  After  they  are  sown  and  covered,  press 
down  lightly  upon  the  soil  in  the  same  manner  as'you  would  if  sow- 
ing vegetable  seeds.  This  is  to  prevent  the  air  from  drying  the 
seeds.  If  some  particular  variety  of  a  class  is  desired,  then  we 
must  take  cuttings.  For  example:  If  we  wish  a  Petunia  of 
a  certain  kind  and  no  other,  we  must  take  a  slip.  In  tak- 
ing a  cutting,  be  sure  that  the  plant  is  a  healihy  one.  If 
the  slip  snaps  off  then  it  is  all  right  to  root  readily,  if  it 
bends  and  does  not  break,  it  is  too  old,  and  although  it  may 
root  it  will  not  do  as  well  as  the  younger  giowth.  Among  the 
Geraniums  they  recommend  the  Zonal  as  the  easiest  for  us  to 
manage  in  our  climate  as  a  summer  bloomer.  For  winter,  we 
should  root  new  slips  each  spring  and  keep  them  pinched  back  until 
we  wish  them  to  bloom.  There  are  some  troubles  coming  to  the 
flower  grower  in  the  sweet  heaven  sent  odor  of  the  country  even. 
The  rose  slug  is  a  great  pest,  they  make  an  attack  before  we  are 
aware  of  it  and  strip  our  bushes  leaving  them  looking  like  so  many 
brown  sticks.  The  best  of  all  insecticides,  especially  for  these  is 
powdered  white  hellebore,  dust  it  over  the  leaves  while  wet. 
Mildew  can  be  well  treated  with  sulphur.  In  August  we  begin  to 
pot  bulbs  for  winter  blooming.  They  are  imported  yearly.  As 
soon  as  they  can  be  gotten  let  us  set  one  pot  of  Hyacinths  and 
Chinese  Lilies  for  Christmas.  One,  two,  three  or  four  bulbs  can 
be  potted  together.  Leave  about  one  quarter  of  the  bulb  uncovered. 
Set  them  deep  enough  to  keep  them  steady  and  firm  as  they  root 
entirely  from  the  bottom.  Hyacinths  potted  in  this  way  must  be 
put  in  the  cellar  for  three  weeks   to  root  and   get   started.     Early 


STATE    rOMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  89 

Narcissus  put  in  pot  the  first  of  September  will  bloom  in  December, 
taking  nearly  five  months  for  flowering.  If  we  pot  a  few  bulbs 
each  month  we  shall  have  a  succession  of  blooming  plants  the  whole 
winter  and  spring.  They  are  litlle  or  no  trouble  as  they  will  stand 
more  cold  nights  than  any  other  we  can  deal  with.  The  best  and 
most  beautiful  among  the  Hyacinths  are  the  early  semi-double  white 
and  the  rose,  both  of  which  I  have  at  this  time  in  January  in  full 
blossom,  while  the  blues  and  yellows  are  full  of  buds.  The  last 
named  are  the  Roman.  I  don't  feel  nearl}'  as  well  pleased  with 
them  as  the  former.  Tulips  can  be  treated  in  the  same  manner 
and  bloom  for  us  all  the  long,  dreary,  dark  winter. 

If  you  choose  you  may  add  the  Bermuda  Easter  lily.  I  have 
never  bad  this  kind  of  lily  in  blossom.  In  its  place  have  had  a 
Lillum  LoDgiflorum  forced,  giving  three  beautiful  flowers  and  one 
bud  for  Easter  Sunday.  Ttiis  kind  of  lil}'  is  adapted  to  out  door 
culture,  yet  it  is  forced  nicely,  is  more  hardy  and  we  can  depend 
upon  it  while  we  much  doubt  our  ability  always  to  manage  our  Ber- 
muda lily.  ]n  all  cases  where  the  pot  peems  small  for  an}-  plant 
and  we  do  not  wish  to  retard  the  growth  by  repotting,  top  dress 
heavily  if  the  pot  is  decently  large.  By  following  this  line  of  work 
we  shall  have  fl  )wers  all  the  year  through.  It  takes  only  a  few 
minutes  now  and  then,  we  scarcelj^  mi'SS  the  time,  it  gives  us  recreation 
diverts  our  thoughts  bringing  a  pleasant  change  every  day  to  break 
the  monotony.  The}'  not  only  divert  and  please  us  but  especially 
speaking  are  great  and  efficient  helpers.  For  those  of  us  who  have 
searched  diligently  among  nature's  handiwork  feel  certain  that  we 
have  found  no  thing  so  minute  as  to  be  without  evidence  of  Divine 
thought,  care  and  wisdom.  So  from  these  small  teachers,  the 
flowers,  we  may  gain  many  valuable  lessons.  They  are  eloquent 
when  interpreted  arighc.  First,  and  superior  to  all  other  senti- 
ments, is  expressed  the  loving  care  and  solicitude  of  the  Good 
Father  for  His  children's  delight  and  comfort,  for  with  lavish 
hand  has  he  besprinkled  the  whole  earth  with  their  beauty  and  love- 
liness. No  place  is  so  poor  and  lowl}',  none  too  grand  and  lofty,  lor 
them  to  flourish  ;  showing  that  He  is  not  a  partial  Father,  but  one 
looking  with  as  much  delight  upon  the  poor  man's  simple  home,  as 
the  rich  man's  lordl}'  palace.  There  are  no  conditions  or  circum- 
stances where  flowers  seem  to  be  out  of  place.  They  speak  words 
of  hope  and  of  a  happy  future  to  the  young  bride  at  the  altar, 
make  bright   halls  of  pleasure,   are  pleasant  companions   for   the 


90  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

isolated,  bring  comfort  and  cheer  to  the  suffering  and 
give  consolation  to  the  mourner.  But  their  best  mission  seems 
to  be  to  the  poor  who  do  not  have  them.  They  are  silent  messages 
from  truth's  own  hand,  messages  which  cannot  be  evaded  or  con- 
tradicted, which  lift,  purify  and  strengthen  for  better  thinking  and 
living.  They  are  gifts  that  do  not  cost  a  great  deal.  Nature  fur- 
nishes sunshine,  dewdrops,  soil  and  rain,  a  little  of  our  time  and 
effort  and  it  is  done.  Flowers  have  a  mission  as  mementos.  For 
when  we  place  one  of  these  "green  things  growing,"  bear  it  in  mind 
that  it  may  be  for  the  years  when  we  are  not.  Perhaps  our  children's 
children  may  point  them  out  as  grandpa's  roses  or  grandma's  lilies 
long  after  the  hand  that  set  them  has  crumbled  to  dust.  They  will 
therefore  help  to  keep  alive  a  memory  of  us  in  the  minds  of  those 
who  come  after  us.  How  many  desolate,  brown  old  farm  houses 
have  been  made  to  look  perfectly  beautiful  by  the  thoughtful, 
beauty-loving  women  of  the  household.  How  cool  and  delightful 
that  south  window  with  the  grape  vine  running  over  it.  How  bright 
those  hardy  roses  on  either  side  the  walk.  Oh,  flowers  areso  rest- 
ful and  helpful!  On  some  warm  afternoon,  when  our  mothers 
begin  our  seams  without  a  knot  in  the  thread,  it  woi:'t  sta}'  in  the 
needle,  the  scissors  hide  and  then  the  spool  rolls  off  under  the 
lounge,  laying  all  aside  let's  go  out  for  a  visit  in  the  garden,  pull  a 
few  weeds  here,  break  off  a  discolored  leaf  there,  admire  them» 
enjoy  their  fine  coloring  and  tinting,  then  go  back  and  we  shall  gen- 
era ly  find  all  the  other  things  in  regulation  order.  They  have  a  mis- 
sion in  helping  to  preserve  to  us  great  moral  truths.  It  is  said  in 
legend,  that  underneath  the  cross  at  the  crucifixion,  all  around  were 
blooming  pure  white  flowers.  When  He  said  "It  is  finished"  one 
drop  of  blood  fell  upon  one  white  flower.  It  instantly  took  on  a 
purple  hue  and  all  the  surrounding  flowers  as  well.  They 
called  that  one  the  Passion  flower.  Who  can  ever  look 
again  upon  this  flower  without  remembering  the  Passion  of 
Christ  and  all  it  means  to  suffering  humanity.  Another  beautiful 
legend  saj  s  that  one  day  the  Heather  was  placed  in  the  valley 
alone,  and  chancing  to  look  upon  the  bleak  and  bare  mountainside, 
was  troubled,  for  in  the  valley  there  was  so  much  brightness  and 
none  on  the  mountain.  The  Heather  approached  the  Rose  with 
words  of  persuasion,  to  the  end  tha'  it  go  up  there;  but  the  Rose 
was  too  comfortable  and  would  not ;  neither  would  the  Lily,  or  any 
other  flower.     At  last,  in  discouragement,  the  Heather  exclaimed  : 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  91 

"  I  am  on]}'  a  pcor  Heather;  have  no  blossom  or  beaut}-,  but  will 
go  and  do  what  I  can.''  With  the  expression  of  this  resolution, 
from  every  leaf  and  branch  sprang  beautiful  flowers,  giving  us 
our  Scottish  Heather  Rose.  This  tells  us  that  the  buds  of  self- 
sacrifice  always  produce  blossoms  of  s-weet  satisfaction.  FJowers 
also  are  closely  interwoven  in  the  history  of  almost  every 
country.  The  Rose  of  England  represents  many  years  of 
battle  and  bloodshed.  The  Shamrock  of  Ireland  brings  to 
our  minds  poverty,  ignorance  and  superstition  on  the  one  hand, 
with  zealous,  patriotism  and  loyalty  on  the  othe  .  The  Scot- 
tish thistle  tells  us  of  the  self-reliant,  hardy  and  staunch  old  High- 
lands with  their  Scotch  plaids  and  bagpipes.  The  fair  Lily  of 
France  is  still  the  fair  Lily,  -hough  reeking  with  blood  and  nourished 
by  the  guillotine.  Why  should  we  not  have  a  National  flower?  Why 
not  the  Golden-rod,  it's  like  many  things,  in  its  surrounding.  It  is 
indigenous  to  our  soil  as  are  the  everlasting  hills  ;  it  looks  so  fragile 
with  those  large  tufts  of  flowers  on  that  slender  stalk,  but  you  try 
to  break  it  off,  you  wish  to  know  how  much  hidden  strength  and 
resistance  there  is  stowed  away  in  it.  It's  like  the  people  who  till 
the  soil  out  of  which  it  grows  so  carelessly.  Of  its  past  we  knew 
but  little,  may  it  represent  to  us,  as  a  whole,  and  to  all  the  genera- 
tions following,  peace,  prosperity  and  happiness.  Dear  brothers, 
admonish  the  dear  wives  at  home  to  remember. 

How  akin  flowers  are  to  human  things, — 
Emblems  of  our  own  great  resurrection, 
Emblems  of  the  bright  and  better  laud. 

While  they  are  emblematic  of  these  future  promises  they  are  also 
emblems  of  sorrow  and  of  woe.  And  although  we  cannot  consider 
the  yew  and  cypress  without  a  dark  and  gloomy  cloud  for  the 
Instant  passing  before  us,  yet  with  the  same  glance  we  ma}'  behold 
the  olive  leaf  of  peace,  the  laurel  wreath  of  victory.  So  it  is  all 
the  way  through,  pleasure  closely  associated  with  pain.  Is  pain 
only  exaggerated  pleasure?  Who  knows?  The  juice  of  the  Poppy 
in  minimum  dotes  alleviates,  just  beyond  it  means  death.  We 
weep  for  joy,  we  do  the  same  in  sorrow. 

Aud  the  poet,  faithful  and  far-seeing 
Sees  alike  in  stars  aud  flowers,  a  part 
Of  the  self-same  universal  being. 
Which  is  throbbiii"'  in  his  l)raiu  aud  heart. 


:92  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

BULBS   FOR  THE    WINDOW   GARDEX. 
By  Mrs.  B.  T.  Towxsexd,  Freepoit. 

Change  i8  delightful  to  a  great  many  people.  Though  they  are 
quick- to  recognize  and  appreciate  all  forms  of  beaut)',  they  can 
never  be  satisfied  to  worship  at  one  particular  shrine.  I  am  in 
sympathy  with  these  changeful  natures,  for  I  can  never  content 
myself  with  the  same  flowers  year  after  year,  either  in  the  vrindow 
or  the  open  ground.  Bulbous  plants  are  among  the  most  showy 
and  useful  of  our  garden,  greenhouse  and  window  garden  favorites, 
and  with  scarcely  any  exception,  are  easily  managed,  sure  to  bloom 
and  require  but  little  labor  and  care  to  enable  them  to  produce  their 
charming  flowers. 

Perhaps  a  few  lines  in  the  way  of  the  early  history  and  culture  of 
the  Hyacinth  may  be  of  interest.  The  Hyacinth  was  first  introduced 
into  England  in  1596.  At  that  time  we  find  mection  of  onl}'  four 
varieties.  In  an  old  book  on  gardening  published  in  1629  we  find 
there  are  mentioned  and  described  eight  diflerent  varieties  of  various 
colors,  from  pure  white  to  deep  purple.  During  the  two  hundred 
and  sixty  years  that  have  passed  since  the  above  book  was  published 
there  has  been  a  steady  improvement  in  the  size  form  and  color 
of  the  plant  until  the  present  time.  More  than  four  thousand 
varieties  have  been  produced  and  catalogued  but  only  about  two 
hundred  of  the  most  desirable  varieties  are  in  general  cultivation. 

The  Hyacinth  is  a  universal  favorite  in  the  most  extended  appli- 
cation of  the  word-  It  is  usually  grown  for  forcing  into  flower  dur- 
ing the  dull,  cheerless  months  of  winter  and  early  spring.  The 
bulbs  may  be  potted  at  any  time  during  September,  October  or 
November  in  rich  deep  soil.  Use  pots  from  four  to  sis  inches  in 
diameter,  fill  the  pot  rather  loosely  to  the  brim  and  press  the  bulb 
down  into  the  soil  so  that  only  one-fourth  of  it  appears  above  the 
soil.  Then  water  sufficiently  to  settle  the  soil  and  place  in  a  cool 
dark  place  where  they  ma}'  remain  for  stveral  weeks  to  encourage 
a  development  of  roots  before  the  flower  bud  starts.  They  ma}'  be 
removed  at  any  time  after  six  weeks  to  a  warm  room  in  full  light, 
w\\en  they  will  repay  you  for  the  little  trouble  with  an  abundance 
of  bloom. 

Daffodils.  This  charming  class  of  bulbs  is  becoming  quite  popular, 
and  why  should  it  not?  They  are  very  desirable  for  winter  bloom- 
ing as  they  can  easily  be  forced  into  bloom  during  winter  months. 
The  treatment  of  Hyacinths  will  apply  to  the  Daffodils. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  93 

Lily  of  the  Yalle}'.  This  beautiful  little  plant  is  extensively 
grown  for  forcing  in  winter  and  early  spring  months.  It  is  per- 
fectly hardy,  preferring  a  slightly  shaded  situation. 

AMARYLLIS. 

Aformosissima,  Jacobean  Lily.  This  is  a  bulbous  plant  produc- 
ing dark  scarlet  flowers,  easily  forced  requiring  the  same  treatment 
as  hyacinths.  They  are  natives  of  Guatemala  and  were  introduced 
in  1658.  It  is  called  Jacobean  on  account  of  the  brilliant  scarlet  of 
its  flowers ;  which  the  Spaniards  in  Peru  thought  resembled  the 
scarlet  swords  worn  b}'  the  knights  of  the  order  of  St.  James, 
(Jacobeans)  and  is  the  only  described  species  of  this  genus. 

AGAPAXTHUS. 

From  agape,  love,  and  anthos,  a  flower.  Linn,  hexandria^ 
tetragynia,  natural  order  liliacejc.  Hexandria,  having  six  stamens. 
Tetragynia,  having  four  styles.  Liliacea?,  a  natural  order  of 
monocotyledonous  plants  belonging  to  the  sub-class  Petaloidoe  and 
constituting  the  type  of  Lindley's  lilial  alliance  of  endogens. 

The  Blue  African  Lily,  A.  umhellahis,  a  noble  plant  with  thicks 
fleshy  roots  and  retains  its  leaves  all  the  winter.  There  is  a  variety 
with  striped  leaves,  A.  alhidus,  has  white  flowers,  but  it  does  not 
differ  from  the  common  kind  in  any  other  respect.  The  Afiican 
lilies  all  require  a  loamy  soil,  enriched.  They  should  be  fully 
exposed  to  the  light ;  also  plent}'  of  water  when  they  are  in  a  grow- 
ing state.  The  plants  are  always  large  before  they  flower,  and 
when  the  flower  stalks  appear  the  plants  should  be  in  a  large  pot, 
so  that  the  roots  may  have  plenty  of  room.  They  should  be  abund- 
antly supplied  with  water,  taking  care,  however,  not  to  let  any 
remain  in  a  stagnant  state  about  the  roots.  Thus  treated,  this 
plant  will  frequently  send  up  a  flower-stock  about  three  feet  high 
crowned  with  twenl}-  or  thirty  flowers,  which  will  open  in  succes- 
sion. It  flowers  in  summer  and  forms  a  noble  ornament  to  an 
architectural  terrace,  or  a  fine  object  on  a  lawn. 

What  a  desolate  place  would  be  a  world  without  a  flower  I  It 
would  be  a  face  without  a  smile ;  a  feast  without  a  welcome. 
Flowers  contain  the  language  and  sentiment  of  the  heart,  thus : 
Faith  is  represented  to  us  in  the  blue  Passion  Flower  ;  hope  beams 
forth  from  the  evergreen  ;  peace  Irom  the  olive  branch  ;  the  cares  of 
life  are  represented  by  the  rosemar}' ;  the  fair  lily  is  an  image  of 
hol-y  innocence  ;  the  victory  of  the  spirit,  by  the  palm. 


94  STATE   POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETr. 


MORE   EDUCATIOX  IN  FLORICULTURE   XECESSARY  TO 

PROFITABLE   ENJ0Y3IEXT   TIIEREIX. 

By  Edwaku  II.  GODDAKD,  AVoodfords. 

The  citizens  of  this  vState  are  slow  about  embracing  new  ideas 
and  novel  fashions.  We  need  something  to  quicken  our  pulses  and 
enable  our  eyes  to  see  further ;  and  that  something  is  a  greater 
desire  to  keep  abreast  of  the  times,  and  in  just  that  degree,  that  we 
acquire  this  desire  in  our  different  departments  of  business  or  social 
life,  shall  we  see  that  people  in  other  states  and  cities  than  our  own 
are  moving  in  advance  of  us.  "\Ye  in  this  age,  must  live  intensely 
to  keep  up  with  the  moving  throng." 

The  people  of  other  places  are  ahead  of  us  and  in  no  way  more  so 
peihaps  than  in  respect  to  plants  and  flowers. 

Styles  in  these  are  all  second-hand  with  us  ;  Chicago,  New  York 
and  Boston,  each  must  have  a  hand  before  we  are  awake  to  the  fact 
that  we  must  have  what  they  have  enjoyed  for  a  long  time.  Amer- 
ican Beauty  roses  are  grown  extensively  in  other  states  but  Maine 
gets  along  with  very  few,  except  for  those  people  who  visit  our 
summer  resorts. 

It  has  been  but  a  year  or  two  that  any  interest  could  be  drawn  to 
Chrysanthemums,  but  we  are  beginning  to  realize  their  worth,  and 
a  Maine  Chrysanthemum  show  is  not  far  off.  Orchids  are  grown  in 
many  places  and  meet  ready  sales,  but  a  dozen  flowers  is  a  large 
stock  for  a  Portland  florist,  and  often  one-half  that  quantity  would 
glut  the  market.  But  after  all  our  dullness  we  are  quite  alive  to 
the  fact  that  we  must  have  plants  and  flowers. 

It  is  now  the  proper  thing  for  everybody  to  wear  at  least  a  soli- 
tary flower  if  any  social  is  to  be  participated  in.  We  work  longest, 
without  fatigue  and  execute  better  work,  when  in  our  happiest 
moods,  and  what,  may  I  ask,  lifts  us  out  of  our  sordid,  rutted  ways 
of  living  and  infuses  inspiration,  like  gleams  of  something  beautiful? 
Beauty  is  always  restful  and  pleasing,  wherever  found,  and  in 
whatever  form  it  may  be  found. 

Almost  every  woman  in  our  land  will  have  plants  indoors  during 
the  long  winter  months  ;  she  pets  and  cares  for  them  to  the  best  of 
her  ability,  while  she  watches  anxiously  for  a  flower,  and  it  is  often 
the  case  that  a  large  amount  of  labor  and  love  is  required  to  pay  for 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  95 

a  few  flowers.  She  does  enjoy  their  company  but  needs  to  know 
more  about  plant  culture  to  rightly  enjoy  theai. 

Children  too,  love  to  care  for  sooae  plant,  often  displacing  more 
real  affection  in  doing  it,  than  would  be  thought  possible.  Care  for 
flowers  tiings  out  the  finer  senses,  makes  loving  hearts  more  loving 
and  many  a  lonely  moment  of  later  years  is  made  tolerable  by 
tender  associations  brought  to  mind  b}'  some  flower  cherished  in 
childhood.  Ladies  and  children  are  not  alone  in  the  cultivation  of 
plants  ;  the  men  are  often  admirers  as  well,  but  far  too  seldom. 
The  subject  doesn't  seem  grand  enough  for  many  of  them.  But  a 
nickel  or  dime  is  spent  for  a  chew  or  smoke  and  it's  all  right.  In 
man}'  cases  if  the  wife  or  child  had  the  pennies  to  buy  seeds,  plants 
or  flowers,  where  the  lord  of  the  house  spends  dollars  for  what  dulls 
his  senses,  the  home  would  be  far  happier  and  more  attractive. 

J^ow,  in  order  to  enjoy  the  floral  world  more  we  must  know  more 
about  it,  and  we  are  supplied  with  much  good  material  for  this 
needed  knowledge,  if  we  would  grasp  it.  The  plant,  seed  and 
implement  catalogues  that  flood  the  country  are  a  direct  means  of 
very  reliable  information  and  are  good  reading,  containing  as  they 
do,  cultural  directions  for  nearly  every  variety  offered  for  sale. 
The  vast  amount  of  information  given  the  public  in  this  way  can 
never  be  estimated.  Strictly  first-class  horticultural  journals  are 
a  great  help  and  some  that  may  be  gleaned  from  on  the  subject,  in 
newspapers  and  magazines,  bat  in  many  cases  with  the  latter,  it 
can  be  seen  the  writer  knew  very  little  about  the  subject  under  con- 
sideration, but  for  pay  or  glory  has  tried  to  say  something  and  has 
only  effected  misleading  statements. 

Then  nearly  all  can  procure  Gray's  small  botany  ''How  Plants 
Grow,"  from  this  can  be  learned  the  general  laws  that  govern  plant 
growth  and  cannot  help  being  beneficial.  "Gardening  for  Pleasure," 
* '•Gardening  lor  Profit,"  "Practical  Floriculture,"  and  "Hand  book 
of  Plants,"  b}'  the  late  Peter  Henderson,  are  invaluable  aids. 

Fairs  and  exhibitions,  where  greenhouse  products  form  a  part,  are 
all  aids  in  this  line.  Frequent  visits  to  well  ordered  greenhouse 
establishments  are  educational.  Florists  are  benefited  this  wa}'  as 
well  as  others.  Then  much  more  can  be  learned  by  putting  in 
practice  the  ideas  gained  by  reading.  Our  Agricultural  Colleges, 
State  Agricultural  societies  and  J^speriment  Stations  are  all  aiding 
to  diffuse  this  knowledge,  and  right  here  our  Pomological  Society  is 
the  potent  factor.     And  let  me  suggest  that  each  one  here  expend 


6  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

one  dollar  this  y^ar  to  help  the  society  (one  dollar  is  the  annual 
membership  fee).  It  can  then  do  better  work  and  more  of  it,  and 
you  will  receive  the  benefit. 

Florists  are  professional  men,  or  should  be,  just  as  much  as 
physicians  or  surgeons,  some  of  them  being  specialists  in  growing 
some  particular  varieties,  just  the  same  as  aurists  and  occulists  are 
specialists  in  their  line,  and  some  institution  should  furnish  diplomas 
for  the  successful  completion  of  a  prescribed  course  in  floriculture. 
As  I  have  said  before,  florists  ought  to  be  teachers  ;  but  to  become 
successful  as  such,  they  must  get  entirely  rid  of  that  old  idea  thaf 
gardeners  have  banded  down  to  each  other  as  a  legacy,  that  theirs 
is  a  knowledge  of  mystery  and  to  tell  one  solitary  thing  the}'  knew, 
would  simply  be  giving  the  thing  away  and  this  would  soon  make 
an  empty  pocket-book  and  they  woald  lose  their  importiace  as  well. 

The  late  Peter  Henderson  realized  the  folly  of  this  idea  and 
taught  the  people  how  to  cultivate  plants  and  instead  of  becoming  a 
pauper  or  losing  position,  see  the  immense  business  and  wealth  he 
accumulated  and  those  who  mourned  his  death  reached  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific. 

While  our  florists  may  realize  the  fallacy  of  this  disposition  they 
are  at  a  disadvantage  about  overcoming  it  for  in  this  State  there  are 
no  florists'  organizations  ;  while  in  other  states  the  florists'  clubs  are 
an  invaluable  aid  for  exchange  of  experience,  ideas  and  socialities, 
furnishing  as  they  do,  seasons  for  debate,  essays,  lectures  and  exhi- 
bitions. In  this  State  all  the  aid  we  get  is  from  the  management  of 
State,  county  and  town  fairs.  The  benefit  we  derive  is  rather 
indirect  and  comes  with  long  intervals  and  we  are  of  little  benefit  to 
them,  or  at  least,  less  by  far  than  we  would  be,  did  we  have  an 
organization  of  our  own  to  keep  our  enthusiasm  up  the  year  round. 

Then,  too,  many  of  us  disregard  botanical  names,  this  is  wrong  ; 
but  the  mother  of  a  dozen  children  vs^ould  be  just  as  sensible  to  say 
she'll  raise  them  without  names,  because  she  can't  remember  what 
the  minister  christened  them,  as  the  florist  to  grow  his  plants  with- 
out names. 

It  does  very  well  for  a  pelargonium  to  be  called  Lady  Mary, 
Martha  Washington,  Lxdy  Washington,  Paa-iy  Geranium  and  more 
of  a  similar  character  in  any  certain  locality,  but,  perhaps,  outside 
that  particular  neighborhood  people  would  be  puzzled  to  know  what 
was  meant  by  them.  Many  people  don't  know  that  what  we  call  a 
geranium  is  a  pelargonium  and   not  a  geranium   at   all ;  geraniums 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETr.  97 

being  mere  weeds.  One,  so  called,  geranium,  is  Pelargonium 
Zonale  and  the  Martha  \yashingtoas  are  Pelargonium  Grandijlora. 
The  PLnglish,  cr  French  names  of  these  are  simply  the  different 
varieties  produced  at  different  times.  I  have  been  asked  the  good 
of  learning  and  trying  to  retain  these  Latin  names,  they  are  all  in 
Latin,  and  Latin  is  yet  the  universallanguage,  so  that  if  in  Grerman3', 
Italy,  France,  Austria  or  England  you  call  for  Yiola  tricolor  3^ou 
would  invariably  get  the  pans}',  while,  perhaps,  you  could  neither 
speak  the  country's  language  or  the  gardener  a  word  of  yours. 

Even  in  our  own  country  it  facilitates  matters  when  sending  away 
for  plants.  If  30U  want  a  palm,  there  is  no  need  of  going  into 
explicit  descriptions,  but  ask  for  Areca  lutesceus,  if  that  is  the 
variety,  and  you  won't  get  Lalania  boibonica  or  Cocos  Wt^ddeliaus. 
Consequent!}-  it  is  well  to  know  a  little  Latin,  so  that  the  learning 
of  these  names  will  be  easier.  Then  again,  usually  the  name  is 
descriptive  of  some  part,  so  some  idea  of  the  plant  can  be  gotten 
from  the  Latin  name.  For  instance,  if  odorata  is  connected  with 
the  name,  we  know  it  is  fragrant ;  crassilfolia  means  thick-leaved, 
and  so  on. 

If  there  is  one  place  where  florists  need  better  education,  it  is  in 
floral  arrangements.  There  is  much  ignorance  displayed  here  by 
people  supposed  to  know  something  about  it,  and  it  is  wonderful 
that  the  public  tolerate  such  work  as  is  in  many  cases  put  out.  We 
are  all  at  fault  here,  and  because  the  general  public,  who  see  com- 
paratively little  of  greenhouse  flowers,  pronounce  anything  beautiful 
that  contains  them,  seems  to  be  license  enough  to  very  often  mangle  the 
whole  arrangement.  There  are  scores  of  emblems  that  would  never 
be  recognized  but  for  the  frame  on  which  ihey  are  made.  The  wire 
workers  are  sometimes  at  fault,  but  uniformity  of  surface  without 
crowding,  or  bunching,  with  due  regard  to  outline,  are  attainments 
all  of  us  may  acquire.  The  artist  should  be  particular  to  follow 
all  outlines  and  if  the  wire  worker  has  failed  to  do  his  part,  he 
should  be  familiar  enough  with  the  form  he  is  filling,  to  make  up 
the  deficiencies  of  the  mechanic. 

The  growth  of  floriculture  in  this  country'  during  the  past  few 
3'ears  has  been  perfectly  marvelous.  About  fifteen  3-ears  ago,  I 
stood  face  to  face  with  a  structure  that  was  to  serve  as  m3'  school- 
house  where  I  should  learn  about  plant  culture.  That  building  was 
16x24  feet  on  the  ground,  two-thirds  span  roof,  covered  in  by 
450  feet  glass  and  we  were   unable  to  dispose  of  the    plants  in  that 


98  STATE   POMOLOGICAL   SOCIETY. 

green  house  the  first  two  years.  To  day  17.000  feet  of  glass  worked 
to  the  best  of  our  knowledge,  isn't  suffcient  to  supply  the  demand 
for  this  class  of  goods,  on  the  very  site  of  the  first  building.  The 
business  in  the  city  of  Portland  was  then  a  16x24  affair  as  com- 
pared with  the  present.  Now  increase  the  knowledge  of  these 
things  and  more  plants  will  still  be  used  and  more  flowers  called  for. 
I  would  suggest  that  we  interest  the  children  in  plant  growth. 
Once  impress  a  child's  mind  with  a  truth  and  it  is  fast,  never  to  be 
shaken  off.  So  I  repeat,  interest  the  children,  teach  them  the  prin- 
ciples of  plant  life  and  growth  and  the  similarity  ot  plants  to  the 
human  family.  The}'  are  very  striking  and  one  hour  might  be 
pleasantly  spent  discussing  them.  Let  the  little  ones  grow  up  with 
plants  all  around  them,  strew  their  paths  with  roses,  for  they  will 
find  the  thorny  bush  far  too  soon.  Let  botan}^  be  taught  in  all  the 
school  grades,  not  simph'  a  few  weeks  in  the  whole  course.  Let 
societies  give  children  plants  to  grow,  offering  premiums  for  best 
grown  specimens. 

Our  own  society  took  a  good  step  last  season  in  this  way,  and 
although  many  plants  returned  were  imperfect,  still,  good  was  done. 
An  interest  was  aroused  in  some  of  the  children,  that  will  continue 
until  Ihey  are  men  and  women  grown. 

Much  can  be  learned,  too,  by  experimenting,  trying  to  produce 
new  varieties.  We  breed  horses  and  stock,  for  points  and  records 
thus  gained,  make  prodigies  of  new,  their  brains  seeming  active  in 
no  other  place  than  where  the  deep  furrows  have  been  made  by 
pedigrees.  Just  so  can  we  breed  plants  for  points  with  just  as 
positive  results.  The  pedigree  of  a  variety  produced  by  artificial 
fertilization  may  be  just  as  correctly  written  as  one  for  a  trotter. 
The  field  is  large,  the  work  interesting,  expense  trifling,  and  the 
process  can  be  accomplished  by  any  careful  person. 

Hybridization  of  plants  is  an  interesting  study  and  much  valuable 
information  and  pleasure  as  well  may  be  gained  by  practicing  the 
art.  Expensive  tools  are  not  necessary,  nor  is  fancy  stock  neces- 
sary. A  pair  of  tweezers,  a  fine  camel's  hair  brush,  a  tooth  pick 
and  a  clean  piece  of  well  sized  white  paper  being  all  the  tools  there 
is  any  need  of  possessing  for  ordinary  work  and  all  of  these  are  not 
positively  demanded.  While  best  results  crown  the  efforts  of  the  most 
careful  watcher,  every  one  can  derive  pleasure  and  profit  from  it.  We 
take  Geraniums  that  differ  widely  in  respect  to  color,  growth  or  habit 
of  bloom  ;  select  one  of  them,  usually  the  one  of  best  style  of  growth, 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  99 

as  the  parent  or  seed  plant.  This  one  we  are  very  particular  to 
watch  and  almost  before  the  flower  bud  opens  we  take  the  tweezers 
and  pull  off  the  anthers  ;  we  want  the3e  before  the  pollen  is  ripe  so 
as  to  prevent  the  plant  pollenating  itself;  then  just  as  soon  as  the 
pistil  shows  itself  to  be  at  all  guram3'  we  are  ready  with  the  brush, 
pick  up  the  pollen  from  the  anthers  of  the  other  plant  and  place  it 
on  the  pistil  of  the  seed  plant.  We  usually  keep  this  up  at  intervals 
for  several  da3S  ;  then  the  plant  is  set  by  itself  and  we  wait.  As 
soon  as  the  seed  ripens  we  plant  it.  Plants  from  this  seed  will  be 
vigorous  and  under  favorable  conditions  will  bloom  in  from  four  to 
six  months.  The  new  plants  will  give  many  variations  in  color, 
perhaps  none  so  good  as  either  of  the  plants  selected,  perhaps 
nearly  all  will  be  good  ones.  If  none  are  distinct  enough  to  name, 
many  will  be  good  enough  to  place  with  the  general  collection  and 
even  here  we  have  gained  fresh  stock.  The  process  with  the 
chr3'santhemum  is  ver}'  much  the  same,  only  we  never  attempt  to 
remove  pollen  parts  from  the  seed  flower,  and  do  make  use  of  the 
paper  sheet,  more,  because  it  is  easier  to  collect  the  pollen  on  this, 
and  shake  it  into  the  flower,  than  to  use  the  brush,  on  account  of  the 
large  amount  of  petals  in  the  way. 

The  seedlings  are  watched,  yes,  even  coddled,  to  keep  them 
growing  finely  and  everyone  is  qui  vive  on  the  appearance  of  a  bud, 
hardl}'  waiting  for  nature  to  develop  the  flower  in  the  anxiet}'  and 
curiosity  to  know  the  color  and  form. 

People  would  be  more  rational  in  their  operations  with  plants  if 
the}'  knew  onh'  a  little  more  about  them.  I  have  been  disgusted 
during  the  plant  season  having  so  man}'  ask  questions  similar  to 
these.  Shall  I  water  this  every  day  ?  How  often  ought  I  to  water 
this?  A  good  answer  I  think  is,  supply  water  to  the  plant  as  you 
take  it  yourself.  We  drink  when  we  are  dry  only  (i.  e.  if  we  are 
temperate)  and  do  not  wait  until  we  are  nearl}'  famished  before  we 
slake  our  thirst.  So  generally  water  a  plant  when  it  i3  dr}-  not 
waiting  until  there  is  a  drought  like  Sat  ara  and  then  imposing  a 
flood. 

Many  plants  are  killed  by  intended  kindness  in  this  way.  Then, 
day  after  day  rooms  aie  heated  hot  and  no  air  admitted  to  freshen 
it.  Plants,  of  course,  are  placed  in  a  sunny  window  ;  so  on  the 
sun's  return  in  the  spring,  many  times  we  can  almost  hear  the  poor 
things  panting  for  breath  and  see  their  very  tongues  cling  to  their 
mouths,  they  are  so  dr}-.     Again  the  receptacles  used  for  pots  are 


100  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

often  simply  ridiculous.  Sizes  all  out  of  proportioa  to  plants,  ves- 
sels glazed  inside  and  out  with  no  vent  to  let  surplus  water  escape. 
The  perfect  pot  is  a  vcrj'  porous  cup  with  a  large  hole  in  the  bottom. 
A  large  plant  with  lots  of  leaves  may  live  and  thrive  in  a  tin  'can, 
because  it  takes  up  all  the  water  supplied,  but  in  the  tub  the  small 
plant  dies  because  the  soil  becomes  sodden  and  sour,  not  being  able 
to  make  use  of  so  much  fluid. 

In  the  open,  nature  supplies  trees  and  plants  with  a  porous  soil. 
The  surplus  water  soaks  away  and  the  plant  grows.  To  be  the  best 
cultivators  we  must  closely  imitate  nature,  and  the  more  nearly  we 
do  so,  the  better  success  will  crown  our  efforts. 

Is  there  room  for  more  florists  and  is  there  money  to  be  made  in 
tlie  business?  There  is  plenty  of  room  and  plenty  of  money,  but 
the  room  and  money  are  both  at  the  top.  Superior  men  are  called 
for.  Men  of  excellent,  general  education,  willing  to  work  with 
hand  and  brain,  applying  themselves  365  days  every  year  are  the 
sort  we  want  and  the  kind  to  benefit  the  country.  The  time  is  not 
coming  but  is  here,  when  there  are  enough  men  to  do  the  menial 
work  ;  the  need  is  for  leaders  to  set  them  to  work  and  well  trained 
men  in  any  business  can  do  that,  and  ours  is  no  exception.  We 
want  men  who  not  only  know  in  theory  but  by  actual  practice,  how 
to  build  homes,  heat  them,  and  grow  the  plants  to  fill  them.  Such 
men  will  be  sought  after  in  trade  and  in  society  and  there  will  be 
the  closest  companionship  between  them  and  their  patrons.  Plant 
culture  will  be  a  pleasure  and  all  because  more  is  known  about  it. 
More  education  in  floriculture  is  what  we  need  to  enjoy  it  more. 


STATE    POMOLCGICAL    SOCIETY.  101 


THE   GROWING  OF  PLANTS. 

Bj-  Charles.  S.  Walker,  Peru. 

Id  discussing  this  subject  I  shall  aim  to  offer  suggestions  for  the 
benefit  of,  and  cautions  to  guard  the  success  of,  the  modest  flower 
andj^vegetable  gardens  of  the  busy  mechanic  or  tradesman  who  has 
but  an  hour  or  two  a  day  to  devote  to  their  care,  and  also  the  gar- 
den of  the  farmer  whose  labor  is  so  exhausting  and  whose  leisure  hours 
are  so  few.  Again  I  think  of  the  little  flower  garden  or  the  few 
scattered  flower  beds  of  the  farmer's  wife  or  daughters  which  are 
too  often  so  grudgingly  ''set  off''  for  their  benefit  by  the  head  of  the 
family  who  sees  beauty  in  nothing  except  in  the  greas}'  sides  of  his 
pigs  and  pocketbook. 

Having  a  desire  to  economize  your  time  which  is  so  valuable  at 
such  a'gathering  as  this  where  so  many  special  interests  in  the  wide 
field  of  horticulture  are  to  be  served,  I  shall  speak  of  vegetable  and 
flowering  plants  collectively  whenever  their  treatment  is  so  similar 
as  to  admit  of  so  doing.  Hence  the  arrangement  of  matter  presented 
must  be  in  a  measure  sacrificed  to  time  and  space.  Again,  as 
experience  teaches  that  a  few  simple  suggestions  in  connection  with 
many  cautions  tend  more  certainly  toward  success  than  minute  and 
exhaustive  directions.  I  shall  hope  to  make  this  paper  more  valu- 
able for  its  "don'ts"  than  otherwise. 

SEEDS. 

A  glance  at  a  few  of  the  many  seed  and  plant  catalogues  that 
find  their  way  to  our  homes  each  spring  and  fall,  reveals  the  fact 
that  there  is  a  wide  range  of  prices  in  the  different  lists  for  the  same 
varieties  of  seeds  and  further  inspection  shows  that  a  low  figure  is 
the  chief  inducement  held  out  by  many  dealers  to  gain  sale  for  their 
wares.  Many  undesirable  species  and  many  worthless  varieties  are 
advertised  and  sold  because  they  can  be  furnished  at  a  large  profit 
at  five  cents  per  packet.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  paper  packet 
containing  most  five  cent,  and  a  good  man}-  ten  cent  seeds,  costs 
the  seedsman  more  than  the  seeds  found  therein  and  it  is  equally 
safe  to  advise  that  in  general  cheap  seeds  are  to  be  treated  as  you 
would  treat  an  offer  of  an  all  wool  suit  of  clothes  for  six  dollars  or 
of  a  barrel  of  flour  for  three  dollars  and  a  half. 


102  STATE   POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

As  an  illustration  of  what  good  seeds  do  and  ought  to  cost,  it 
may  be  stated  that  it  required  $3  worth  of  pansy  seed  at  wholesale 
prices,  to  produce  blooms  sufficient  to  make  a  creditable  exhibition 
and  take  the  SI  premium  at  the  last  fair  held  by  this  society. 

As  a  rule  "store  seeds"  are  unsafe  to  use,  the  temptation  being 
too  great  to  "  re-issue"  old  shopworn  seeds  that  ought  to  be  "can- 
celtd"  and  burned. 

Again,  handle  with  care  the  goods  offered  by  those  Barnums 
among  seedsmen,  who  advertise  novelties  for  prices  great  or  small, 
which,  judging  from  their  descriptions,  seem  so  perfectly  suited  to 
act  as  advanc*  agents  of  the  millennium. 

While  it  may  be  desirable  to  have  seeds  of  some  species  grown  as 
far  north  as  practicable,  as  for  instance  peas  and  perhaps  some 
others  which  require  only  a  short  season  for  maturity,  it  is  a  posi- 
tive injury  to  the  value  of  most  seeds  to  have  them  grown  in  high 
latitude,  even  more  than  to  have  them  grown  very  far  south.  The 
reasons  for  this  are  that  very  many  species,  the  plants  and  fruit  of 
which  we  can  grow  with  perfect  success,  require  a  much  lon«er 
season  than  ours  for  the  full  maturity  of  their  seeds.  Please  note 
that  I  am  talking  for  the  State  of  Maine  garden  now.  Most  reliable 
seedsmen  grow  a  comparatively  few  specialties  in  seeds  suitable  to 
their  locality  which  they  are  careful  to  have  of  high  grade  and  this 
class  of  seeds  should  be  sought  after  for  they  are  never  too  dtar  at 
any  price.  Buyers  should  try  to  fathom  the  dark  mysteries  of  the 
catalogue  if  possible  to  decide  what  are  the  really  valuable  and 
trustworthy  stock  of  that  particular  seedsman.  A  necessary  con- 
clusion to  be  reached  is  that  if  many  species  or  varieties  of  seeds 
are  to  be  used,  more  than  one  grower  should  be  patronized. 

PLANTING. 

We  next  consider  the  subject  of  planting  aud  in  this  operation 
the  first  thing  to  be  called  for  is  the  seed  box,  and  for  this  purpose 
we  have  no  use  for  birch  barks,  tin  cans,  or  salt  boxes.  We  prefer 
seed  boxes  of  half  and  quarter  inch  stuff,  not  less  than  8x10  inches 
and  from  that  size  up  to  12x16  inches,  and  for  most  flower  seeds 
they  should  not  be  over  two  inches  deep.  For  tomatoes  and  cab- 
bages, a  depth  of  three  inches  is  desirable.  Too  much  earth  room 
about  seeds  planted  indoors  is  a  fruitful  source  of  trouble.  Caution 
against  deep  planting  of  small  seeds  has  been  too  frequently 
repeated  to  require  more  than  an  allusion  here.     The  earth  of  the 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  103 

seed-bed  should  be  made  very  fine  and  well,  but  not  very  highly 
enriched  with  thoroughlv  decayed  fertilizers. 


TEMPERATURE. 

The  temperature  which  the  seed  box  is  to  be  given  is  an  impor- 
tant matter  and  a  mistake  at  this  point  may  easily  ruin  the  whole 
enterprise.  As  almost  all  seed  packets  have  printed  directions  for 
treatment  including  temperature,  etc.,  a  little  at'ention  to  those 
cannot  fail  to  put  one  upon  the  right  track  in  this  matter.  Of  course 
we  cannot  expect  to  be  very  minute  in  our  management  in  regard 
to  temperature,  but  it  will  be  sufficient  to  divide  our  seeds  into  two 
or  three  classes  according  to  the  degree  of  warmth  required  for 
healthy  germination  and  then  give  them  conditions  accordingl}'. 

Pansies  germinate  freely  and  vigorously  only  at  a  very  moderate 
temperature.  The  aster  and  pink  do  well  at  medium  degrees  while 
the  portulaca  requires  a  very  warm  situation  for  germination.  Sit- 
uations favorable  to  each  of  thtse  classes  may  be  found  in  almost 
every  kitchen  or  sitting  room. 

Seeds  demanding  little  warmth  may  be  placed  remote  from  the 
fire  and  on  or  near  the  fioor,  while  the  highest  available  amount  of 
heat  may  be  found  near  the  stove  or  register  and  near  the  ceiling. 
These  positions  are  suggested  only  to  secure  proper  germination  and 
natuial  and  quick  germination  insures  vigorous  and  healthy  plants 
from  the  start. 

WATERING. 

Many  have  experienced  difficult^'  in  properly  watering  their  seed 
beds  previous  to  germination  when  the  seeds  contained  therein  were 
so  delicate  and  therefore  so  lightly  covered  that  they  were  liable  to 
be  washed  out  by  the  most  careful  watering.  To  guard  against  this 
danger  and  also  to  save  unnecessary  watering  it  is  suggested  that 
p.eces  of  cloth  be  cut  exactly  the  size  of  the  seed  box  inside  and 
carefully  laid  over  the  earth  after  planting,  and  over  this  protection 
water  may  be  quite  carelessly  turned  and  allowed  to  soak  as  it  may. 
This  serves  to  protect  the  seeds  and  also  to  check  evaporation.  We 
find  for  this  purpose  pieces  of  burlap  such  as  may  be  obtained  by 
cutting  up  bran  sacks,  just  the  thing  for  covering  the  boxes. 


104  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 


EXPOSURE. 


As  soon  as  the  plants  are  up  the  question  of  exposure  to  the  sun 
arises,  and  most  likely  the  boxes  wUl  require  a  change  of  location, 
for  of  all  things,  the  sun  is  a  party  to  the  transaciioa  that  cannot 
be  ignored  with  very  good  success  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  a 
supply  of  fresh  air  for  the  seedlings.  Pale,  spindling  or  "drawn" 
plants  are  caused  by  a  lack  of  sunlight  or  of  air,  or  of  both,  and 
strict  regard  to  these  two  elements  must  be  paid,  if  any  success  is 
to  be  realized  in  growing  either  flower  or  vegetable  plants  indoors, 
for  transplanting  to  the  open  ground  at  the  proper  season.  Any 
properly  ventilated  living  room  is  all  right  for  plants,  as  far  as  air 
is  concerned,  provided  the  seedlings  are  not  stiffled  by  being  covered 
closely  by  glass  as  we  sometimes  see  them.  But  as  regards  sun- 
light it  cannot  be  said  that  every  sitting  room  or  kitchen  is  all  that 
can  be  desired  for  the  growing  of  plants,  or  that  even  moderate 
success  is  to  be  expected  from  the  attempt  to  grow  them  under  con- 
ditions found  in  many  such  rooms. 

An  unlimited  amount  of  sunlight  and  a  high  temperature  are 
indispensable  for  the  production  of  good  and  early  tomato  plants,  and 
the  rooms  that  furnish  these  to  a  sufficient  degree  are  extremely  few, 
if  indeed  any  are  to  be  found.  But  if  one  is  out  of  reach  of  a  green- 
house where  such  plants  can  be  purchased,  the  next  best  thing  must 
be  done. 

TRANSPLANTING. 

As  soon  as  plants  are  large  enough  to  stand  being  disturbed, 
transplanting  must  be  at  once  attended  to,  for  plants  sutler  much 
more  by  a  delay  of  transplanting  than  by  being  handled  when  too 
tender.  In  general,  all  plants  are  ready  for  handling  as  soon  as 
they  have  made  from  two  to  four  leaves,  beside  the  seed  leaves. 

Plants  intended  for  pot  growing  should  be  removed  from  the  seed 
bed  to  small  pots  and  here  it  is  necessary  to  caution  against  the  use 
of  other  than  small  ones,  i.  e.,  from  two  to  three  inches  in  diame- 
ter, and  never  use  the  latter  size  when  the  smaller  will  answer.  Too 
much  pot  room  is  capable  of  as  much  mischief  as  too  little  of  the 
same,  and  is  much  more  liable  to  occur.  Potting  earth  and  the  bed 
for  transplants  should  be  richer  than  the  seed  bed. 

Plants  designed  for  the  gardens  should  be  transplanted  to  other 
and  generally  deeper  boxes,  or  to  the  hot  bed  or  cold  frame.  P^or 
the  first  transplanting  I  have  in  mind  no  kind  of  plant  that  requires 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  105 

a  box  more  than  three  inches  deep,  except  the  cabbage,  which 
demands  four  or  four  and  a  half  inches.  For  transplanting  either 
to  boxes  or  to  the  open  ground,  a  common  steel  table  fork  is  a  very 
good  tool  for  making  holes  and  packing  earth  firmly  about  the  roots 
of  the  seedling.  We,  however,  prefer  a  wooden  dibble,  which  can 
be  easily  whittled  from  any  hard  or  soft  wood.  Take  a  piece  of 
wood  six  inches  long  and  three-fourths  inches  square  and  from  the 
middle  taper  it  to  a  point  at  one  end,  smoothing  off  the  other  half 
for  a  handle. 

HARDENING. 

As  the  time  draws  near  when  the  seedlings  must  be  removed  to 
the  open  ground  the  hardening  off  process  must  be  employed  which 
renders  them  capable  of  withstanding  the  vicissitudes  and  severities 
of  open  air  growth, — the  chill  of  night  and  the  burning  sun  and  dry- 
ing winds  of  day — and  all  those  variations  incident  to  our  New 
England  climate,  so  well  described  b}-  Mark  Twain  and  which  the 
State  of  Maine  realizes  to  a  superlative  degree. 

This  operation  consists  of  exposing  the  plants  to  sun,  wind  and 
cold  air  to  as  great  an  extent  as  safety  to  the  plants  will  allow.  A 
veranda  is  a  good  place  for  this  work  as  is  the  lee  of  a  fence  or 
building.     The  cold  frame  is  also  a    perfect  place  for  the  process. 

From  the  first  I  have  not  expected  to  dwell  at  length  on  the 
special  culture  of  different  varieties,  but  it  may  be  deemed  proper 
to  make  an  exception  of  celery,  a  luxury  which  is  so  fast  finding  its 
way  into  the  home  gardens,  and  the  market  demand  for  which  is  so 
rapidly  increasing.  In  the  first  place  the  common  error  of  expos- 
ing the  seed  box  to  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun  for  any  considerable 
portion  of  the  day  should  be  studiously  avoided.  The  box  may  be 
placed  in  good  light  but  much  sun  is  quite  sure  to  make  mischief  as 
the  seeds  must  be  covered  with  little  earth  and  may  very  easily 
become  what  Peter  Henderson  has  designated  as  "killing  drj'." 
After  sowing  the  seed  broadcast  and  covering  lightly,  a  little  water 
and  a  good  deal  of  patience  will  be  required  of  the  planter,  but  if 
good  seed  has  been  used  he  may  expect  to  see  at  the  end  of  three 
or  four  weeks  a  good  stand  of  half  inch  high  celery. 

As  soon  as  these  tiny  plants  have  made  three  or  four  leaves  the 
first  transplanting  must  be  done  and  this  operation  will  present 
itself  in  a  very  unfavorable  light  to  the  bungling  fingers  of  most 
men  and  the  probabilities  are  that  after  a  few  dozen  plants  are 
pricked  out  the  good  lady  of  the  house  will  have  a  cordial  invitation 


106  STATE    POMOLOGIOAL    SOCIETY. 

to  prove  her  superiority  in  that  line  of  work  which  she  can  readily 
do.  A  forty  penny  wire  spike  slightly  flattened  at  the  point  is  the 
best  tool  to  use  in  handling  celery  at  this  stage.  After  growing 
these  transplants  in  boxes  a  month  it  would  be  well  to  transplant 
again  to  a  cold  frame  or,  if  the  weather  will  permit,  to  a  bed  o  it 
of  doors,  where  they  may  be  grown  to  stocky  and  well  hardened 
plants  for  their  final  removal  to  rows  in  the  garden. 

HOT    BEDS    AND    COLD    FRAMES. 

The  hot-bed  as  an  accessory  to  the  household  garden  is  becoming^ 
each  year  more  common  and  as  it  is  within  the  reach  of  most  people 
and  is  perfectly  available  for  all,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  give  very 
brief  directions  for  its  construction  and  management. 

First,  choose  a  location  if  possible  on  the  lee  side  of  a  building 
or  board  fence.  If  this  cannot  be  done,  make  a  wind-break  on  the 
side  of  the  bed  toward  the  prevailing  winds.  The  ground  chosen 
should  be  free  from  all  danger  of  flooding  by  surface  water  in  the 
spring.  For  the  bed  an  excavation  should  be  made  eighteen  inches, 
deep,  six  feet  wide  and  as  long  as  the  bed  is  desired.  For  ordinary 
gardens  a  two  or  three  sash  bed  would  be  sufficient.  Sashes  are 
generally  three  feet  wide.  The  excavation  should  be  lined  up  with 
plank  which  should  rise  above  the  common  level  of  the  ground  from 
two  to  tour  inches,  and  on  the  edges  of  these  planks  the  plank 
frame  of  the  hot-bed  should  rest.  The  Irame  should  be  made  of 
inch  and  a  half  pine  and  be  well  painted.  The  end  pieces  I  would 
cut  six  feet  long  and  taper  them  from  sixteen  inches  wide  at  one 
extremity  to  four  or  six  inches  at  the  other.  This  would  give  a 
pitch  to  the  sash  of  ten  or  twelve  inches.  The  high  and  low  walls 
of  course  must  correspond  with  the  wide  and  narrow  ends  of  the 
end  pieces.  The  sash  can  probably  be  bought  all  glazed  cheaper 
than  they  could  be  made  by  any  one  besides  a  carpenter.  The 
heating  material  to  be  used  will  generally  be  strawy  stable  manure 
and  it  should  be  placed  in  a  pile  and  allowed  to  warm  up  thoroughly 
and  be  forked  over  two  or  three  times  to  secure  an  even  heat  before 
it  is  put  in  the  bed.  Enough  of  this  should  be  used  so  that  when 
it  is  well  trodden  down  it  will  be  at  least  twelve  inches  deep.  On 
this  should  be  spread  nicely  enriched  garden  soil  to  the  depth  of  six 
or  eight  inches. 

Afler  the  bed  is  set  up  it  should  not  be  planted  until  the  fierce 
heat  is  out  which  will  be  in  about  five  or  six  days.     As  to  wattrirg» 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  107 

the  bed  will  speak  for  itself,  but  if  the  "fresh  air  fund"  is  not  well 
sustained  a  lot  of  sapp3%  sickly  plants  will  be  the  only  reward  the 
owner  will  receive  for  his  labor  and  expense. 

The  hot-bed,  though  useful  in  growing  some  flower  seedlings,  and 
particularly  in  starting  dahlias,  is  more  especially  profitable  in  for- 
warding the  interests  of  lettuce,  cabbage  and  tomato  plants,  and 
here  allow  me  to  remark  that,  aside  from  the  greenhouse,  the  hot- 
bed I  think  is  the  only  place  where  really  early  and  good  tomato 
plants  can  be  grown. 

The  cold  frame  is  simply  the  frame  and  sash  of  the  hot-bed  placed 
over  a  bed  prepared  in  the  open  ground  and  therefore  has  no  bottom 
heat.     Its  uses  have  already  been  indicated. 

PROPAGATION   BY   CUTTINGS. 

The  ground  included  within  the  limits  of  my  subject  would  not  be 
covered  were  I  to  omit  speaking  of  propagation  by  cuttings.  Special 
processes  of  propagation  requsite  for  special  varieties  of  plants  can 
not  be  given  at  this  time,  for  I  only  have  time  to  briefly  refer  to  the 
treatment  which  is  applicable  to  a  number  of  the  more  common 
kinds  in  general  cultivation  as  pot  or  bedding  plants. 

The  propagating  process  that  I  would  recommend  as  most  prac- 
ticable for  home  use  is  similar  to  what  is  called  the  "saucer  S3'stem." 
To  prepare  for  it  I  would  obtain  from  the  haidware  dealer  a  sheet 
iron  pan  made  abcut  like  an  ordinary  baking  pan,  only  have  it  made 
water  tight  of  galvanized  iron  if  possible  and  about  two  and  a  half 
inches  deep.  To  facilitate  handling  this  pan  which  will  be  quite 
heavy  when  filled,  it  would  be  well  to  place  it  in  a  shallow  box  just 
large  enough  to  hold  it.  The  pan  may  then  be  filled  nearly  full  of 
clear  sand,  fine,  medium  or  coarse  it  does  not  matter  which,  and  then 
thoroughly  wet.  In  this  sand  you  will  stand  your  cuttings  or  "slips'* 
always  keeping  the  propagating  pan  as  much  in  the  the  sun  as  possible 
and  in  a  warm  s-ituation.  Never  let  the  sand  be  otherwise  than  filled 
with  water,  no  matter  if  water  stands  on  it  some  of  the  time.  Per- 
fect success  in  root  cuttings  demands  that  the  cutting  should  be  in 
the  proper  stage  of  growth  when  taken  off  and  this  must  be  learned 
by  experience  with  different  species  :  The  only  direction  of  much 
value  that  I  have  ever  noted  was,  that  the  cutting  should  be  taken 
when  it  will  snap  off  readily  and  not  bend  or  split.  The  time 
required  for  rooting  varies  greatly  with  different  kinds  of  plants,  but 
as  soon  as  they  have  fairly  struck   root  they  should   be  potted  or 


108  STATE    POMOLOGIOAL    SOCIETY. 

planted  out  in  boxes.  It  is  a  mistake  to  let  the  roots  get  two  or 
three  inches  long  before  planting ;  a  half  inch  or  less  is  better. 
This  method  ma}'  be  successful!}  employed  with  Abutilons,  Coleus, 
Geraniums,  Carnations,  Begonias,  Petunias  and  Verbenas,  and 
probably,  to  a  greater  or  less  degree,  with  some  others. 

GARDEN    LITERATURE 

I  will  close  b\'  referring  to  the  fact  that  every  branch  of  business 
or  art  has  its  literature  which  is  almost  indispensable  to  its  success 
or  proper  and  highest  enjoyment,  and  floriculture  and  gardening  are 
not  exceptions.  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  floral  literature  like  some 
other  is  of  two  classes — good  and  bad.  In  general  I  would  char- 
acterize as  worthless  those  magazines  and  papers,  so  called,  pub- 
lished by  seedsmen,  for  they,  as  a  rule,  are  on)}'  catalogues  or 
advertising  sheets  with  just  enough  reading  matter  of  a  cheap  grade 
in  them  to  enable  the  publisher  to  evade  the  postal  laws  and  get 
them  carried  over  the  country  lor  two  cents  per  pound  instead  of 
sixteen  cents.  They  contain  too  much  of  what  it  would  be  better 
to  remain  ignorant.  In  regard  to  them  Josh  Billings'  remark  is 
quite  applicable,  "that  it  is  better  not  to  know  quite  so  much  than 
to  know  so  many  things  that  hain't  so."  But  aside  from  this  class 
there  are  enough  good  floral  and  garden  publications,  and  I  will 
mention  that  the  best  coming  to  my  notice  is  the  American  Garden- 
ing', published  by  the  Rural  Publishing  Companj',  New  York. 

And  now  having  occupied  much  more  of  your  time  than  I  intended 
when  I  commenced  this  paper,  I  will  close  with  the  earnest  hope 
that  among  the  many  simple  and  common-place  suggestions  made 
here,  some  may  serve  to  contribute  to  the  success  of  those  who 
realize  and  try  to  obtain  the  benefits  and  pleasures  to  be  deiived 
from  horticultural  pursuits. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  109 


OECHAKDS   AND    ORCHARDISTS   IX  MAINE. 

Compiled  from  the  Secretary's  Correspondence. 

Mr,  Geo.  A.  Longfellow  of  Winthrop  now  has  about  1200  trees, 
mostly  Roxbury  Russets.  About  two-thirds  of  the  trees  are  in 
bearing.  In  1891  he  sold  318  barrels  of  apples  for  $600.  In  1892 
he  raised  about  600  barrels  of  apples.  Mr.  Longfellow  reports 
that  good  orchard  land  in  his  town  can  be  bought  for  SlO  to  815 
per  acre. 

There  are  several  large  orchards  in  Turner,  the  Rickers  of  that 
town  having  one  of  the  largest  in  the  State.  The  past  year  (L'<92) 
they  had  a  large  crop,  and  it  was  reported  that  the  fruit  was  sold 
in  the  fall  for  S3, 000.  There  are  several  other  orchards  of  large 
extent  in  Turner — one  of  these  being  that  own?d  by  ihe  late  Hon. 
Rufus  Prince.  Mr  D.  J.  Briggs  has  an  orchard  containing  800 
trees,  of  which  some  300  are  in  bearing.  In  1891  be  reports  that 
he  marketed  fruit  to  the  value  of  $4:15  and  the  following  year  $375. 
Mr.  Briggs  writes  that  it  would  be  a  positive  gain  to  fruit  growers 
in  Maine  -'not  to  sell  any  but  No.  1  apples." 

Mr.  S.  R.  Sweetser  of  Cumberland  Centre  has  300  trees  rin  his 
farm  and  about  one-half  of  them  are  in  bearing  condition.  He 
writes  that  his  orchard  is  worth  double  the  price  per  acre  of  his 
farm.  He  also  states  that  his  orchard  pays  him  forty  per  cent  on 
the  investment  above  actual  cost  of  cultivation,  etc. 

A  short  distance  from  the  Kennebec  and  near  the  Bodwell  gran- 
ite quarries  in  Hallowell  is  one  of  the  best  orchards  in  the  State. 
It  is  owned  by  W.  P.  Atherton  and  contains  1200  trees  with  about 
800  in  bearing.  The  orchard  is  very  largely  Baldwins.  The  1891 
crop  was  600  barrels  and  sold  for  nearly  $850.  The  last  crop  was 
525  barrels.  Mr.  Atherton  in  the  winter  of  1892  sent  some  of  his 
apples  direct  to  Liverpool.  He  has  generally  soil  in  Boston,  but 
does  not  feel  fully  satisfied  with  the  manner  in  which  our  Maine 
fruit  is  generally  sold.  He  believes  that  the  publication  and  distri- 
bution of  practical  experience  in  orcharding  would  be  of  great 
value  to  fruit  growers. 

In  recent  years  T.  M.  Merrill  of  New  Gloucester  has  handled 
large  quantities  of  Maine  fruit.  He  also  is  an  extensive  orchardist, 
having  nearly  a  thousand  apple  trees  on  his  own  farm.     About  one- 


110  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETr. 

half  of  these  are  in  bearing  condition  and  in  1892  bore  300  barrels 
of  fruit.     He  writes  : 

"If  the  value  of  the  land  is  fifty  dollars  before  set  to  trees, 
the  first  yesiv  after  being  planted,  the  value  is  increased  the  cost 
of  the  trees  and  setting,  from  a  business  stand  point.  We  will 
now  estimate  the  value  of  that  land  five  years  hence.  If  it  has 
been  properly  cared  for,  it  is  worth  $300  ;  but  if  it  has  had  no  care 
for  the  five  years  (quite  a  per  cent  of  our  Maine  orchards  do  suffer 
from  neglect)  the  land  will  decrease  from  its  cost  before  planting, 
from  the  fact  that  it  costs  something  to  pull  the  shrubs  up,  so  that 
the  next  practical  orchard  man  can  have  a  good  start.  I  have 
some  acres  that  I  value  at  $1,000, — trees  set  out  fifteen  years  ago. 

"We  should  advise  from  our  own  experience.  I  think  for  the 
past  fifteen  years  there  have  been  more  of  my  trees  neglected  than 
taken  care  of  properly.  We  must  first  impress  upon  the  minds  of 
the  amateur  pomologist  that  to  grow  up  a  good  orchard,  so  as  to 
make  it  a  profitable  investment,  it  means  a  great  deal  of  work  and 
considerable  money.  We  know  that  men  who  are  now  realizing 
good  profits  from  their  orchards  have  had  the  above  experience. 

"We  must  exercise  good  judgment  where  to  hold  our  winter 
meetings.  Maine  is  becoming  a  great  fruit  growing  State,  piinci- 
pally  apples.  The  receipts  are  into  the  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollars,  and  the  magnitude  of  the  orchards,  with  proper  care,  is 
sufficitnt  to  reach  into  the  millions.  The  unoccupied  land,  well 
adapted  to  apple  trees,  is  almost  unlimited. 

"It  is  important,  I  think,  to  hold  our  meetings  in  apple-growing 
sections,  not  in  cities,  and  hold  them  for  the  special  interest  of 
fruit  growing,  not  to  accommodate  some  board  of  agriculture,  and 
have  the  most  of  the  time  devoted  to  some  impracticable  papers, 
entirely  foreign  from  our  work.  There  was  a  time  we  were  able  to 
go  alone,  and  now  we  think  we  must  be  lead  by  some  other  society. 

"I  well  know  that  we  have  had  help  from  the  Board  of  Agriculture 
financially  in  holding  our  conventions,  however,  I  think  we  had 
better  come  down  to  hard  pan  and  hold  our  meetings  in  rural  dis- 
tricts, and  depend  more  upon  home  experience  and  talent,  (although 
I  regret  very  much  that  I  have  not  the  ability  to  aid  the  society  as 
I  recommend).  The  two  or  three  days  that  are  assigned  to  the 
feeble  apple  grower  of  Maine  should  be  carefully  considered  and 
planned  by  the  executive  board,  and  plenty  of  time  given  for  dis- 
cussion after  each  paper. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  Ill 

"Many  au  orchard  man  in  this  country  who  is  possessor  of  thou- 
sands of  fruit  trees,  has  received  valuable  information  from  others 
who  have  only  one  tree,  therefore  it  is  important  to  have  time  for 
discussion  so  as  to  swap  experience." 

David  C.  Averill  in  the  town  of  Wilton,  on  the  high  land  over- 
looking a  beautiful  valley,  has  an  orchard  of  800  trees,  about  500 
of  which  are  in  bearing  condition,  though  a  large  part  of  the  trees 
are  young.  For  the  1891  crop  he  realized  $250  and  for  the  1892 
crop  6340.  He  regards  his  orchard  as  the  most  profitable  part  of 
his  farm. 

Phineas  Whittier  of  Chesterville  has,  we  think,  the  largest  orchard 
in  Maine.  He  reports  that  he  has  about  6000  trees,  with  not  far 
from  two-thirds  of  them  of  bearing  age.  But  of  these  many  are 
young  trees.  He  is  still  setting  more  trees.  At  la&t  accounts  he 
was  unable  to  give  the  receipts  of  his  orchard,  as  the  inferior 
apples  for  1891  and  1892  were  evaporated  and  canned  and  sales 
had  not  been  made.  His  green  fruit  is  handled  entirely  by  Hall 
&  Cole  of  Boston,  and  he  says  they  always  do  well  by  him. 

S.  H.  Dawes  of  Harrison  has  a  young  orchaid  of  700  trees, 
about  one-half  coming  into  bearing.  In  1891  he  sold  his  apples 
for  $263  and  in  1892  for  8450.  He  writes  that  his  orchard  pays 
him  a  net  profit  of  fifty  per  cent  on  his  investment.  He  also  writes 
that  more  effort  should  be  made  to  induce  the  fruit  growers  in  the 
State  to  join  our  society,  participate  in  our  meetings  and  our  fairs, 
so  that  the  premiums  will  be  more  generally  diffused  then  they  are 
now. 

Nestling  among  the  hills  in  Carthage  is  an  orchard  containing 
1800  young  trees,  about  three-fourths  of  which  are  in  bearing.  It 
is  owned  by  one  of  the  oldest  fruit  growers  in  Maine.  A  ne'ghbor- 
ing  farm  on  which  the  buildings  cost  $1500  is  in  the  market  for 
$1000,  and  this  farm  has  quite  an  orchard,  too.  The  price  of  this 
farm  may  mislead,  if  we  do  not  state  that  Mr.  Towle  sold  his 
apples  in  1891  for  $818  and  in  1892  for  $1060.  He  thinks  our 
society  should  encourage  the  planting  of  nurseries.  He  writes  that 
putting  up  his  fruit  costs  him,  for  barrel  thirty  cents,  picking,  sort- 
ing and  putting  up,  twenty-five  cents,  delivering  at  depot,  fifteen 
cents.  He  adds,  "If  apples  sell  well  it  leaves  a  fair  margin,  other- 
wise the  margin  is  small.  If  I  should  undertake  to  show  you  the 
profit  of  raising  stock  or  farm  produce   I  fear  that  the  cost  would 


112  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

more  than  equal  the  income.  I  am  satisfied  that  there  is  nothing 
we  can  raise  on  our  farms  in  this  part  of  the  State  that  will  pay  as 
well  as  apples." 

D.  P.  True,  Leeds  Centre,  has  1,000  apple  trees  on  his  farm, 
and  about  three-fourths  of  them  are  bearing  fruit.  He  states  that 
his  trees  pay  him  100  per  cent  profit,  and  we  would  not  be  surprised 
if  he  told  the  truth,  for  in  1891  he  received  $250  for  his  apples  and 
in  1892,  $5o0.  He  believes  it  would  be  an  advantage  to  hold  two 
winter  meetings  instead  of  one. 

Fred  Wright  of  Bath  has  an  orchard  of  200  trees  in  which  he 
finds  pleasure  and  profit  in  cultivating. 

M.  W.  Libby  of  North  Gorham  has  a  young  orchard  of  500 
trets.  Only  about  one  third  of  the  trees  have  begun  to  bear,  but 
he  reports  a  good  crop  and  has  shown  nice  fruit  at  our  fairs. 

F.  E.  Nowell,  Fairfield,  reports  that  hia  King  and  Spy  apples 
sold  for  S4.50  per  barrel ;  Fameuse,  $4  ;  Nodhead,  $».50  ;  Bald- 
win, S3.  He  has  500  trees  set,  and  400  bearing.  He  estimates 
his  orchard  seventy-five  per  cent  higher  than  the  rest  of  his  farm. 

E.  H.  Keniston,  Arnold,  bought  his  farm  five  years  ago.  The 
trees  were  mostly  natural  fruit,  and  very  wisely  he  has  been  work- 
ing these  over  to  better  varieties.  Farms  containing  good  orchards 
may  be  bought  for  a  low  price. 

Joseph  H.  Smiley,  Vassalboro,  writes  that  he  has  two  hundred 
app'e  trees  on  two  and  one-half  acres  of  land ;  seven-eighths  are 
in  bearing;  18P9,  272  barrels,  cash  receipts  $648.10;  1890,  218 
barrels,  $741.12;  1891,  232  barrels,  $313.95;  1892,  260  barrels, 
$529  32.  Land  is  worth  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  dollars  per  acre 
and  first-class  trevs  in  bearing  from  $500  to  $800  per  acre.  I 
receive  more  net  income  from  the  orchard  than  I  do  from  the 
remainder  of  the  farm,  which  contains  fortj'-two  acres.  The 
Society  can  do  good  work  by  encouraging  the  fruit  growers  to  take 
better  care  of  their  trees  and  not  to  set  more  than  they  can  keep 
in  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 

Vj.  H.  Cook  of  the  samf  town  has  1500  trees  and  about  half  of 
them  are  in  bearing  condition.  The  past  two  years  the  receipts 
from  this  orchard  have  been  $300  and  $450  respectively.  Mr. 
Cook  wiites  :  "Orchard  land  in  this  town  is  worth  $20  an  acre.     I 


&TATE    rOMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  113 

think  an  orchard  just  set  is  worth  $50  to  $80,  a  bearing  orchard 
$200  to  $700.  The  great  range  depending  on  varieties  and  condi- 
tion of  trees.  Some  orchards  yield  nearly  nothing  on  account  of 
treatment.  I  know  of  one  orchard  of  three  acres,  which  has 
paid  $15,000  in  cash  in  the  last  thirty  years.  With  interest,  total 
amount  in  work  to  credit  of  this  three  acres  of  apple  trees  is 
$20,000.  The  Society  should  teach  fruit  growers  how  to  market 
their  own  apples." 

A.  E.  Andrews,  Gardiner,  has  300  trees  and  one-half  are  in 
bearing.  '*The  Society  should  not  recommend  so  many  varieties," 
he  writes. 

M.  C.  Hobbs,  West  Farmington,  has  about  1,000  trees  now  set. 
Not  more  than  100  of  them  are  in  bearing.  His  last  crop  was  125 
barrels,  which  he  sold  for  $230. 

J.  M.  Pike  of  Wayne  writes:  "I  have  2,200  apple  trees  in  all, 
about  twenty  acres,  (all  Baldwins  and  Northern  Spy),  three  acres 
of  them  are  twenty-five  or  thirty  years  old  and  the  rest  of  them  I 
have  set  within  ten  years  ;  all  New  York  trees,  they  produced  last 
year  about  fifty  barrels  of  very  nice  fruit.  My  three  acres  of 
bearing  trees  will  have  paid  for  the  last  ten  years  interest  and 
taxes  on  $2,000.  I  have  six  acres  set  ten  years  in  one  lot  that  I 
would  not  sell  for  $3,000  Twelve  years  ago  it  was  an  old  sheep 
pasture  worth  al)out  $6  per  acre,  every  tree  Baldwins  true  to  name. 
I  have  had  very  good  success  with  fruit  trees  and  am  much 
interested  in  fruit  culture." 

Charles  I.  Perley  of  Cross  Hill  in  the  town  of  Vassalboro  has  a 
thrifty  orchard  of  600  trees.  He  enjoys  his  orchard  and  is  sure  it 
is  paying  him  well  for  labor  and  capital. 

J.  B.  Wheeler  of  Corinth  tells  an  interesting  story  of  fruit  cul- 
ture in  the  following  words  which  need  no  comment : 

*' I  now  have  four  hundred  apple  trees,  about  half  in  bearing. 
Fifty  of  them  I  bought  with  my  farm  in  1850,  and  that  year  they 
bore  about  a  peck  of  grafted  fruit.  About  fifty  that  are  seventy- 
five  years  old  I  have  since  bought  with  adjoining  farms  and  think 
I  did  not  pay  a  dollar  more  for  the  farms  than  I  should  had  there 
been  no  apple  trees  on  them.  The  other  three  hundred  trees  I 
raised  and  set  myself  during  the  last  forty-three  years   and   have 

8 


114  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETV. 

no  knowledge  of  what  they  C3st  me,  but  they  kept  me  out  of  idle- 
ness, while  some  others  were  smoking  their  pipes  ;  so  I  did  not 
acquire  the  tobacco  habit,  which  I  consider  quite  an  item  saved.  I 
make  general  farming  my  business  and  feed  more  apples  to  my 
horses,  colts,  cattle  and  shoep  than  I  sell.  I  can  raise  good  hogs 
with  apples,  the  milk  from  my  dairy  and  a  little  meal. 

"Every  creature  on  the  farm  likes  apples,  even  the  hens  and  the 
crows  will  steal  my  best  apples  with  apparently  as  good  taste  and 
as  much  skill  as  the  veteran  apple-buyer.  About  all  of  my  apples 
of  good  quality  are  sold  by  commission  merchants  in  Boston,  and 
if  I  have  but  a  few  barrels  to  sell  I  often  divide  them  equally  and 
send  them  to  two  men,  they  paying  the  freight  from  Bangor 
(twenty  cents  per  barrel  by  boat)  and  taking  out  their  commissions. 
I  got  net  for  them  delivered  in  Bangor  in  1891,  $199.33  for  120 
barrels,  and  I  think  it  cost  $60  to  handle  them  and  for  barrels, 
leaving  me  net  $59.33.  In  1892  I  sold  135  barrels  in  the  same 
5vay  for  $311.55,  and  it  cost  $65  for  barrels,  and  to  handle  them, 
leaving  me  net  S246.55  for  them  delivered  in  Bangor.  1  think  the 
apples  used  in  the  family,  fed  to  stock  and  given  away  more  than 
paid  six  per  cent  on  the  investment,  taxes,  labor,  taking  care  of 
the  trees,  fertilizers,  etc.,  so  I  cannot  see  but  the  above  figures 
show  the  net  income. 

"From  the  foregoing  I  have  on  an  average  the  two  last  years 
$102.94  from  four  acres  of  land  being  half  my  orchard  which  is 
$25.73  per  acre,  which  is  much  more  than  any  other  four  acres  of 
my  340  acre  farm  averages.  Good  orchard  land  sells  for  $10  per 
acre,  more  or  less  as  to  locality,  but  good  farms  with  much  of  the 
land  fit  for  an  orchard  may  be  bought  for  the  cost  of  the  buildings. 
By  a  liberal  supply  of  the  Transactions  of  your  Society  showing  the 
boys  and  young  men  just  how  to  take  care  of  the  old  apple  trees 
and  how  to  raise  others  you  will  do  a  great  work.  Inclosed  is  one 
dollar  to  constitute  me  a  member  of  your  Society  the  coming  year." 

E.  A.  Lapham  of  Pittston,  one  of  our  members  and  exhibitors, 
is  an  active  orchardist  and  has  200  trees,  from  which  he  receives 
a  good  income,  though  many  of  the  trees  are  young.  He  thinks  the 
net  profit  is  twenty-five  per  cent.  His  first  trees  were  set  twenty- 
three  years  ago  and  he  thinks  these  pay  him  mox'e  profit  than  any- 
thing on  his  farm.  He  writes:  "I  am  going  to  set  some  more 
trees  this  year.  It  is  no  use  to  set  out  trees  unless  they  are  looked 
after  every  year.     Lots  of  people  make  mistakes  here  and  set  out 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  115 

more   trees  than  they  care  for  and  the  consequence  is  the  orchard 
doesn't  pay  them  " 

Nathan  W.  Harris,  Auburn,  has  about  600  trees  in  bearing, 
though  the  trees  are  young.  As  yet  he  has  not  received  much  profit. 
Last  year  his  apples  sold  for  S267.19.  He  believes  the  Society  can 
help  fruit  growing  interests  by  "keeping  at  it."  "For  precept  must 
be  upon  precept,  precept  upon  precept,  line  upon  line  ;  here  a  little 
and  th  re  a  little." 


IN  MEMORIAM. 

"  Wisdom  is  the  gray  hair  unto  men,  and  an  unpotted  life  is  old  age." 

It  may  have  been  my  own  father's  gray  hairs  that  eaily  taught 
me  to  respect  the  aged.  There  was  more  than  respect  in  my  senti- 
ments, for  when  I  looked  upon  his  whitened  locks  and  watch. d 
over  him  in  the  declining  years  of  a  long  and  useful  life,  many 
thoughts  would  come  to  me  of  the  long  life  his  old  age  represented. 
I  never  meet  an  old  person  but  there  arises  within  me  a  desiie  to 
know  something  of  the  life  that  has  been  crowned  with  age.  The 
joys  of  childhood  and  the  fickleness  of  youth  have  disappeared, 
and  the  stern  realities]  of  life  have  developed  both  stability  and 
character.  Idle^fancies  have  long  since  passed  away  and  the  prac- 
tical judgment  of  age  has  given  settled  convictions  in  morals,  in 
religion,  in  politics,  in  business,  yea,  in  all  the  affairs  of  life  the 
aged  are  confirmed  in  practice,  positive  in  opinion  and  sound  in 
judgment. 

The-se  and  similar  thoughts  ran  through  the  writer's  mind  at  our 
Bangor  meeting  in  1890,  as  he  looked  upon  the  venerable  form  of 
Elijah  Low.  It  had^  notj  been  our  privilege  to  meet  before,  and 
through]  the j^efforts  of  Mr.  B.  A.  Burr  of  Bangor,  whose  death 
occurred  only  a  few  weeks  after  our  meeting,  Mr.  Low's  name  was 
placed  upon  our  programme  for  a  paper  on  "Plum  Culture."  It 
was  a  special  pleasure  to  meet  him,  for  of  the  many  who  had 
courageously  undertaken  the  culture  of  plums  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  State,  he  was  about  the  only  one  who  had  been  successful. 
Only  a  few  weeks  before  his  beloved  wife  had  fallen  sick  and 
passed  to  the  laud  beyond.     While  he  did  not  look  like  an  old  man. 


116  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 

he  did  appear,  in  many  ways,  to  show  the  sorrows  he  bore.  As  he 
read  his  paper  he  was  dignified  in  manner,  and  his  words  were 
terse,  yet  explicit  and  positive.  There  was  not  a  particle  of  doubt 
in  what  he  said.  At  the  close  of  his  paper,  some  one  in  the 
audience,  who  had  evidently  been  beaten  by  the  black-knot  and 
curculio,  called  in  question  the  possibility  of  vanquishing  these 
foes  of  plum-culture.  With  the  greatest  composure  and  a  repressed 
smile  upon  his  face  Captain  Low  said,  "Come  to  my  garden  on 
Centre  street,  and  I  will  show  you  healthy  trees  without  black-knot" 

His  paper  on  plum  culture  had  but  one  fault,  and  that  was  its 
brevity.  But  after  listening  to  its  reading  in  Bangor,  and  referring 
to  it  frequently  since,  I  am  very  sure  that  it  fully  covers  the  sub- 
ject. It  is  not  embellished  with  unnecessary  words,  and  there  was 
no  apparent  effort  either  to  elaborate  his  own  knowledge  or  experi- 
ence, and  yet  the  plain  facts  of  successful  plum  culture  were 
clearly  presented  in  this  excellent  paper.  It  was  published  in  full 
in  our  Transactions  for  that  year,  and  we  commend  it  to  the 
perusal  of  all  who  are  interested  in  the  subject  or  expect  to  make 
the  culture  of  plums  a  success. 

Only  once  since  did  I  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  Captain  Low. 
At  our  1891  exhibition  in  Lewiston,  he  was  present  with  an  exhi- 
bition of  the  fruit  grown  on  the  trees  of  whose  culture  he  had  pre- 
viously told  us.  His  collection  was  the  best  and  most  complete 
of  any  we  have  seen  at  our  fairs.  It  bore  indisputable  evidence 
of  his  success  in  plum  culture.  The  same  year  he  exhibited  a  col- 
lection of  plums  at  an  exhibition  of  the  INIassachusetts  Horticultural 
Society  in  Boston.  They  were  the  wonder  and  envy  of  Massachu- 
setts fruit  growers,  and  that  society  awarded  Captain  Low  a  medal 
for  his  collection  of  plums.  The  following  year  he  was  intending 
to  exhibit  with  us  once  more,  but  just  before  our  fair  he  was  stricken 
with  apoplexy,  and  after  an  illness  of  only  four  days  passed  away 
August  18th,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years. 

Elijah  Low  was  born  in  Bath,  October  15,  1812.  He  was  one  of 
nine  children  and  the  last  survivor  of  the  family.  The  family 
removed  to  Bangor  in  1831,  and  this  city  became  the  home  of  Mr. 
Low.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  in  1834  took  part  in 
building  the  Bangor  House.  A  few  years  later  he  engaged  with 
his  father  and  brother  in  moving  buildings  of  various  kinds.  He 
followed  this  business  most  successfully  until  a  few  days  before  his 
death.     Mr.  John  O'Connell  of  Bangor,  one  of  his  employees,  has 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  117 

worked  for  Mr.  Low  over  fifty  years.  After  the  father's  death,  the 
two  sons  continued  the  business.  This  brother  was  S.  S.  Low, 
whose  name  appears  among  the  life  members  of  our  Society. 

Captain  Low  was  a  man  of  patriotic  impulses,  and  in  the  settle- 
ment of  the  boundary  questions  involved  in  the  Aroostook  War, 
was  an  orderly  sergeant  of  the  o'd  Bangor  Rifle  Corps.  In  1863 
he  was  appointed  provost-marshal  by  President  Lincoln,  his  district 
containing  Penobscot,  Piscataquis  and  Aroostook  counties. 

Captain  Low  was  a  good  citizen.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  fire  department  in  Bangor,  and  for  a  long  time  was 
chief  engineer.  In  this  capacity  he  was  very  popular  and  has  tbe 
credit  of  introducing  several  rrforms  that  largely  increased  the 
efficiency  of  the  department. 

At  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  became  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church  in  Bath  and  from  that  time  on  he  was  identified  with  church 
and  Sunday-school  affairs.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a 
deacon  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Bangor  and  a  teacher  in  the 
Sunday-school. 

Mr.  Low  was  one  of  the  earlier  members  of  our  Society.  So  far 
as  age  goes,  we  have  the  impression  that  he  was  the  oldest  man 
among  our  members,  at  any  rate  not  more  than  one  or  two  exceeded 
his  age.  He  was  an  enthusiastic  plum  grower.  About  the  time 
when  he  became  a  member  of  our  Society,  Bangor  and  vicinity  were 
growing  plums  and  pears  the  most  successfully  of  any  portion  of 
our  State.  Through  the  infiut  nee  of  the  Bangor  Horticultural 
Society,  great  interest  was  developed  in  fruit  culture.  It  is  much 
to  be  regretted  that  the  society,  for  reasons  with  which  we  are  not 
familiar,  has  permitted  its  former  activity  to  languish  in  recent 
years.  But  the  black-knot  came,  and  the  curculio  came  also,  and 
one  by  one  fruit  growers  were  obliged  to  succumb.  But  Mr.  Low 
intelligently  cared  for  his  trees  and  persistently  fought  the  enem'es 
of  plum  culture.  He  overcame  them  and  had  the  pleasure  of  pro- 
ducing an  abundance  of  this  most  luscious  fruit.  This  tribute  to 
his  memory  as  a  man  and  citizen  also  bears  evidence  that  intelligent 
perseverance  ovt  rcomes  all  difficulties  in  fruit  culture. 

D.  H.  K. 


118  STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY. 


JAMES   XUTTING. 


After  having  sewed  three  years  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion, 
James  Nutting,  in  I860,  settled  in  the  wilds  of  Aroostook.  Here  he 
cleared  the  land  and  made  his  home  in  the  town  of  Perham. 
Before  the  people  of  Aroostook  supposed  they  could  raise  their 
own  apples  Mr.  Nutting  was  planting  his  orchards.  Guided  by 
good  judgment  he  selected  varieties  that  were  hardy,  and  then  by 
growing  seedlings  he  succeeded  in  growing  probably  the  best 
orchard  in  northern  Aroo-took.  This  was  not  all,  for  he  believed 
in  fruit  growing,  and  wherever  he  went  he  talked  fruit  growing  to 
his  neighbors  and  friends,  he  showed  them  the  fruit  he  raised  and 
the  trees  that  bore  it.  Inspired  by  his  example,  others  planted 
trees,  and  largely  through  his  influence  there  are  now  many  apple 
trees  growing  in  the  county.  Mr.  Nutting  several  times  exhibited 
apples  at  our  fairs  and  winter  meetings,  and  it  has  been  exceed- 
ingly gratifying  to  the  members  of  our  society  to  note  the  progress 
made,  for  we  have  claimed  from  the  first  that  Aroostook  ought  and 
could  raise  her  own  fruit. 

In  order  to  determine  the  value  of  varieties  for  Aroostook, 
under  the  direction  of  Prof.  Munson  of  the  State  Experiment 
Station,  Mr.  Nutting  was  in  charge  of  experimental  woi'k  for  that 
part  of  the  State,  his  special  work  being  with  apples  and  plums. 
Prof.  Munson  was  fortunate  io  having  the  work  so  well  placed. 

Mr.  Nutting  was  present  at  our  winter  meeting  in  Augusta  in 
January  last,  apparently  in  his  usual  health.  Shortly  after  our 
meeting  we  were  shocked  to  learn  of  h  s  death  of  Bright's  disease 
at  his  home  February  20th.  Fro  n  the  Maine  Farmer  we  abridge 
the  following  : 

Mr.  Nutting  was  fifty-four  years  of  age,  dying  on  his  birthday. 
He  was  born  in  Bethel,  and  attended  the  common  school ;  was 
apprentice  at  the  printing  business  to  the  late  Wm.  H.  Waldron, 
in  the  Lewiston  Journal  ofHce,  in  1857,  and  afterward  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic Advocate  office.  Auburn.  In  1859  was  publi.-her  of  the 
Courier  at  Bethel.  Enlisted  in  the  lOth  Maine  Infantry  in  August, 
1862,  discharged  in  1865,  at  close  of  war  Irom  the  29th  Maine,  to 
which  he  had  been  tran-f erred.  In  1872  purchased  the  North  Star 
newspaper,  which  be  sold  after  one  and  a  half  years,  and  has  since 
attended  exclusively  to  farming  and  fruit  raising,  with  good  success. 


STATE    POMOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  119 

Census  enumerator  in  1880  and  1890,  public  administrator,  justice 
of  the  peace,  assessor,  treasurer,  S  S.  committee  of  plantation. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  1885,  and 
of  the  Senate  in  1891.  He  was  a  brave  soldier,  a  loving  husband 
und  father,  a  noble-hearted  friend,  and  one  of  the  county's  best 
and  most  highly  respected  citizens.  The  deceased  leaves  a  widow 
and  two  children,  together  with  other  relatives,  and  an  unusually 
large  circle  of  friends  to  mourn  his  loss.  With  a  pure  and  stain- 
less character,  genial  in  his  ways,  he  was  such  a  man  as  Aroostook 
people  delighted  to  honor,  and  whooQ  the  people  of  the  State 
delighted  to  meet. 


INDEX. 


PAGE. 

Agapanthus 93 

Agriculture  aud  horticulture  iu  tlie  schools 73 

Amaryllis 93 

Apple,  the,  iu  cookery 78 

scab 70 

Baldwiu,  beuefit  derived  from  top  graftiug AS 

Apples,  Russian  iu  the  Northwest 56 

for  the  World's  Fair 6 

wax  models 10 

Barrows,  Miss  Anna,  paper  by 78 

Bowman,  Frank,  paper  by 48 

Bulbs  for  the  window  garden 92 

Business  transactions 30 

Cannon,  S.  T.  paper  by 52 

Chamberlain,  Rev.  N.  II.,  address  by 61 

Ci  anberry  culture 61 

Executive  Committee,  meetings  of 34 

Exhibition,  annual 17 

list  of  premiums  awarded 21 

Floriculture 86 

More  education  necessary  to  profitable  enjoyment  iu,  94 

Fruits  and  flowers  at  winter  meeting 32 

Fruit  Growei  s"  Convention 39 

Goddard,  Edward  II.,  paper  by 94 

Growing  of  plants  and  flowers  : 

Exposure 104 

Garden  literature 108 

Hardening 105 

Hot  beds  and  cold  frames 106 

Planting 102 

Propagation  by  cuttings 107 

Seeds 101 

Temperatui'e 103 

Transplanting 104 

Watering 103 


122  INDEX. 

PAGE. 

IvxoAVLTOX,  D.  II.,  paper  by 42 

Low,  Elijah,  iu  memoiiam 11^ 

Meetixcjs  of  the  Society : 

Annual  meeting 30 

Winter  meeting 31 

Members  of  the  Society  : 

Annual  for  1892 14 

1893 14 

Life 13 

Merrill,  Miss  H.  M.,  paper  by 73 

Muusou,  W.  31.,  paper  by 67 

XuTTiNG,  .James,  in  meraoriam 118 

Officers  for  1893 12 

Orchards  and  Orchardists  in  Maine  : 

Andrews,  A.  E 113 

Atherton,  ^^.P 109 

Averill,  D.  C Ill 

Cook,  E.  H 112 

Dawes,  S.  H Ill 

Harris,  X.  W 115 

Hobbs,  M.  C 113 

Keniston,  E.  II 112 

Lapham,  E.  A lU 

Libby,  M.  W 112 

Longfellow,  George  A 109 

:^[errill,  T.  M 109 

Xowell,  F.  E 112 

Perley,  C.  I 113 

Pike,  J.  M 113 

Smiley,  J.  II 112 

Sweetser,  S.  K 109 

Towle,  J.  J Ill 

True,  D.  P 112 

Turner  orchards 109 

Wheeler,  J.  B 113 

AVright,  Fred 112 

Organized  Horticulture  in  Maine 42 

Eepokts  of  Secretary 3 

Treasurer 15 

Committee  on  Legislation 31 

Resolutions 33 

Reverse,  the,  of  the  Picture 52 


INDEX.  123 

PAGE. 

Sprayixg  exporimeuts  in  1S92  ref)oi-ted  by  W.  M.  Muusou 67 

Atheitou,  ^y.  P 68 

Briggs,  D.   J 67 

Browu,  H.  W 68 

Dawes,  S.  H 68 

Harlow,  S.  C 67 

Pope,  Charles  S 68 

Smith,  Harry 60 

Sweetser,  S.  R 67 

Study  of  Plant  Life  in  Schools 73 

Taylor,  AV.  A.,  paper  by .56 

Towle,  Mrs.  Alonzo,  paper  by 86 

Townsend,  Mrs.  B.  T.,  paper  by 92 

Walker,  Charles  S.,  paper  by 101 

Wax  Models  of  Maine  Apples 10 

Window  gardening 18,  28,  77,  95 

bulbs  for 92 

Winter  meeting 31 

fruits  and  flowers  at 32 

jprogramme  for 40 

World's  Columbian  Fair 6 

apples,  &c,  for 6 

correspondence  and  contract  with  Execu- 
tive Commissioner 30,  34.  35