History of Highmoor

In July 1909 the state purchased 225 acres located in Monmouth and Leeds to be used as an experimental farm for carrying out research and demonstrations relating to apples. The land and buildings were later deeded to the University. Approximately 5,000 apple trees had been planted at Highmoor Farm in the 1880s, but only about 3,200 were in usable condition when the University took over the farm. These were mostly the popular export apples of that time—Ben Davis and Baldwin, with a few trees of Russett, Greening, Mann and Tolman varieties.

In 1927 a plot of land to the southwest was added to the farm, and in 1966 the State Department of Agriculture turned over about two more acres of land to Highmoor Farm.

Orchard problems have always been high on the list of priorities for research at Highmoor. Early research was directed toward the problems of fertilization, pruning, and management of ground cover. After suffering losses from cold winters, especially that of 1932, a major effort was made to secure hardy rootstocks, an effort that has been quite successful. Research on suitability of cultivars and rootstocks to Maine climate is continuing today. While Highmoor was primarily an "apple farm," other crops and cows received attention from time to time. New sweet corn varieties, cucumbers, a cantaloupe, the FNC tomato, two strawberries, and an apple, the Brock, were developed at Highmoor.