430 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Agriculture. Other things being equal, he who has the best- 

 trained intellect and the most knowledge will everywhere learn 

 the most and accomplish the most. 



The general character of the vegetation in every country de- 

 pends chiefly upon the nature of the soil and the climate, — that is, 

 upon the amount of heat and cold, moisture and drought, sunshine 

 and cloudiness, and the force of the winds. The least-observant 

 traveller can hardly fail to notice the peculiarities of plant growth 

 in different portions of the world. Even in our own country, we 

 have regions with singular and remarkable vegetation, such as the 

 giant cactus of Arizona, the sagebrush of Nevada, the red-woods 

 of California, the herbaceous carpet of the prairies, and the long- 

 leaved pines of the Carolinas. Whoever has ascended Mount 

 Washington must have been struck by the gradual dwarfing of 

 the forest firs and birches, until at last they rise only a foot or two 

 above the ground, and, before he reaches the summit, disappear 

 altogether. The distribution of plants with relation to latitude, 

 elevation and climate, constitutes a department of our science 

 called Geographical Botany, which is both exceedingly interest- 

 ing and of much practical importance in agriculture and horticul- 

 ture. Multitudes of exotic plants are now cultivated under glass 

 in an artificial climate, and the highest success in this branch of 

 culture can only be expected when the natural conditions of each 

 species in its own habitat are thoroughly known and imitated. 

 This knowledge is also invaluable to those who desire to introduce 

 from abroad hardy trees and shrubs, as is well illustrated in the 

 attempt to grow the Patagonian beech in England. Notwith- 

 standing its evident ability to endure the temperature, it was ob- 

 served everywhere to perish, except in a single locality on the 

 6ea-coast, where the air was very moist, as in its native land. 

 Every intelligent cultivator of fruit understands that he must 

 adapt the varieties he would raise to the soil and climate of his 

 locality. Hence the American Pomological Society has prepared 

 with great care catalogues of all kinds of fruit which are specially 

 adapted to the different sections of our extended country. Even 

 in Massachusetts there is a marked difference in the adaptation of 

 varieties to localities. The bouquet of wines and the flavor and 

 perfection of fruits is effected often by very obscure causes, and 

 there is abundant need of well-educated and shrewd observers 

 everywhere in the domain of horticulture. The best wines and 

 the best fruits are ajways in demand at the highest prices, and 



