1883.] EEPORT ON POMOLOGY. 311 



better than fifty, only take the best five,* and be sure the soil, 

 exposure, altitude, and culture are quite right for the varieties 

 planted. 



Chmatic influences, favorable and otherwise. 



Nowhere, since man was driven from Eden, has he found a spot 

 free from difficulties; from the Atlantic on the east to the Golden 

 Gate of the west, difficulties are found at every step; the experi- 

 ence of Connecticut will vary from that of Minnesota, Maine from 

 Georgia, Delaware from California, in all localities are special 

 climatic influences, to which we must apply the law of adaptation; 

 varieties well adapted to our State would often be worthless in 

 extreme Northwest or South and the reverse. In the early times 

 of our Colonies, when a considerable part of our State was prime- 

 val forest, the climatic conditions were highly favorable for fruit 

 growing; the humidity of atmosphere from the exhalations of 

 forest invited frequent showers, the early and the latter rains 

 were comparatively sure, while now the enormous waste and 

 destruction of our forests cause an unusual aridity of atmosphere, 

 so that clouds which might otherwise water the earth, when pass- 

 ing into the overheated air are absorbed or dispelled. Now if we 

 can, as will be hereafter indicated, plant our waste land to valua- 

 ble forest timber trees, a two-fold benefit will result. First, a 

 valuable timber crop. Second, an increased humidity which will 

 be beneficial to all other crops, as well as promotive of the wealth 

 of man ; tending to modify the intensity of heat and cold, flood 

 and extreme drought. 



By the census returns we find the acreage of woodland in our 

 State is increasing; only, let it be of valuable timber growth, 

 instead of valueless poplars, cedars, or underbrush. But the fierce 

 winds which pass through our orchards on a winter's night, cut- 

 ting almost like a burning flame, come over many bleak hills 

 which were once dense forest breaking the force and tempering 

 the severity of cold. 



When will our state and national governments aid in staying the 

 wholesale and wanton destruction of the great Adirondac and 

 other forests, from which every northwest gale soon courses 

 through our State, often damaging our fruit production ? 



*For five pears in succession— B. Giffard (double worked), Clapp's (picked early). Bart- 

 letl, Onondaga, B. d'Anjou. Five peaches, Mount Eose, Oldmixon Free, Wheatland, 

 Crawford Late, Stump. 



