SECRETARY'S REPORT. 75 



As an instance of the influence of climate, the fact is signifi- 

 cant, that out of fifty varieties of American peaches, which 

 succeed admirably in our own country, and which were sent, 

 some years since, to the Horticultural Society of London, only 

 two were adapted to that region. 



In further illustration, some varieties of fruits, which have 

 been cast off, as inferior or worthless in Massachusetts, are 

 found to be of excellent quality when cultivated in the genial 

 climate of the south. 



Vicissitudes attend the cultivation of fruit trees, as well as 

 forest trees, and other vegetable products. How often a severe 

 winter proves injurious to our fruits. Within the knowledge of 

 many of us, our hardiest varieties of the apple as well as of the 

 pear, have been injured by sudden revulsions of climate. But 

 these should no more discourage the pomologist, than the 

 occasional failure of the farmer's crop by frost, drought, or 

 other causes, should prevent his planting the succeeding spring. 

 It is our firm persuasion that the failures which have occurred 

 in fruit-growing, are generally attributable, either to improper 

 soil and varieties, to injudicious treatment, or to neglect of cul- 

 tivation. Hence, these failures, wherever they exist, show the 

 importance of the prominent object of this Board, which is to 

 embody and promulgate the scientific principles and the personal 

 experience that shall reduce the number of such failures, and 

 in the end, prevent their occurrence. 



IY. — Manures and their Application. 



It is a well established fact, that certain substances exist in 

 plants and trees, and that these must be contained to some 

 extent in the soil to produce growth, elaboration and perfection. 

 Trees exhaust the soil of particular ingredients, and, like ani- 

 mals, must have their appropriate food. All know, as we have 

 before intimated, how difficult it is to make a tree flourish on 

 the spot from which an old tree of the same species has been 

 removed. 



How shall we ascertain what fertilizing elements are appro- 

 priate to a particular species of fruit ? To this, two replies are 

 rendered. Some say, analyze the crop ; others, the soil. Each, 

 we think, maintains a truth ; and both together, nearly the 

 whole truth. We need the analysis of the crop to teach us its 



