SECRETARY'S REPORT. 135 



for districts west and south of Maine, and most of them further from 

 our southern limit than " Salem is from Boston," or " the shores 

 of the Hudson from Western New York," and so may we not con- 

 clude, that to gather together, to collate, and to disseminate the 

 results of experience at home, may^e a needful and useful work ? 



Simply to prepare reliable lists of the best fruits adapted to the 

 various sections of one State situated as ours is, so large as to 

 embrace more than four degrees of latitude,* on the very border 

 of orchard culture, too, and as many of longitude — great diversi- 

 ties of soil, surface and climate — might well occupy a life-time ; 

 and besides this, not only in the selection of varieties, but in prac- 

 tice also, both in the nursery and orchard, different methods, in some 

 respects, must he adopted, if we would be successful, from those 

 which prevail in other States. 



It is therefore with much diffidence that the attempt is made ; 

 and were it not that twenty-five yeai's experience in the culture 

 and management of nursery and orchard trees, together with large 

 opportunities for observation in this and in other States, may lessen 

 the incompetency brought to the task, it would scarcely be under- 

 taken at all. 



Why Orchard Trees do not generally succeed so well as for- 

 merly. 



It is a common and very just remark that orchards do not thrive 

 now as they did when the country was newer. For this there must 

 be adequate reasons, and it behooves us to ascertain, if we can, what 

 they are, with a view of obviating them. In the first place, then, 

 1 would remark that the early plantations were set in a virgin soil, 

 full of vegetable mould from the decay of forest trees and leaves 

 for centuries, containing in abundance all the elements necessary 

 to a thrifty growth. Thousands of trees have since then been set 

 upon lands greatly exhausted by repeated croppings, with insuflS- 



*The southern limit of Maine — say at Kittery and Elliot — is in latitude about 43° 

 5'; Saco and Alfred, about 43^°; Bridgton, New Gloucester, Wiscassetand Thomaston, 

 about 44°; Dixfield, Waterville, Searsport and Ellsworth, about 44.^°; Bingham, 

 Exeter, Oldtown and Perry, above 45°; Patten, 46°; Houlton, a trifle further north; 

 Presque Isle and Ashland, about 46° 40'; and the north<!rn limit of the State about 

 47° 20'. Latitude alone, it is to be remarked, however, is not an exact guide to 

 climate, as many other circumstances modify it not less — such as elevation, proxim- 

 ity to water, prevailing winds, &c., &c. 



