Area interest in apples strong in 1890s

To the editor:
    Following are excerpts from “Fruit Raising in Aroostook,” an article prepared for the 1891 State Pomological Winter Meeting in Union, Maine. The author is the Hon. James Nutting of Perham, an orchardist dedicated to developing trees that would flourish in northern Maine.     “The first settlers on the Aroostook River seem to have tried no experiments at fruit raising, but some thirty years ago a few apple seeds were planted on some of the upland farms, but with no results that gave encouragement, as the trees which lived bore no fruit of value. Ten years later the tree peddler made his rounds, and has since made his yearly visits with new and improved varieties, each better than anything yet shown, and perfectly hardy if his story is to be believed. Of the various kinds first introduced, the Duchess of Oldenburg (or New Brunswicker), Alexander and Fameuse, are still planted, and the first named is a success in every way on lands that are adapted to the raising of any kind of apples, but the others are not a success, except in a few cases. Some eight years ago the Wealthy was added to the list of perfectly hardy trees, and also the Tetofsky and Montreal Peach apple, and later on the Yellow Transparent.
    Several years ago, Mr. J.W. Dudley of Castle Hill Plantation, raised from the seed of the Duchess a tree that has been named Dudley’s Winter, which for hardiness, early bearing and size, equals the Duchess, and is a good keeper till late winter or spring. So that we now have the following list: Early fall, the Yellow Transparent; then the Duchess and Tetofsky, the Peach, which will keep till early winter; then the Wealthy from January till spring, and later the Dudley for late winter.
    My own experience is as follows: In 1877 I planted out an orchard of one hundred trees, raised at Woodstock, N.B., seventy-three of which were Duchess, of which seventy were in bearing last season, giving an average of a barrel apiece. These trees were planted twelve feet apart, and are now beginning to crowd badly, but have not failed to yield abundantly each year. In 1885, I set out one hundred Wealthys, which have lived well and are bearing abundantly. I have since planted out five hundred trees of the same variety, which are coming into bearing and promise well. For a crab apple the Hyslop for canning, and Lady Elgin and Lancaster for dessert, are all that have proven a success.
    As to a market for apples, the fact that the valley of the Aroostook is as far north as there is any attempt at orcharding, and that there are 20,000 people in the St. John Valley to be supplied, is answer enough.
    I think that within ten years Aroostook County will not only raise its own apples, but have a surplus for export, if nothing of a serious nature should befall its orchards, as the southern part of the county already raises more than enough for its home market.”
Steve Sutter
Presque Isle