352 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



additional light upon it, and with that object in view I appear before you, in 

 res])onse to an invitation of your conunittce. 



Tlie liistory of fruit growing niiglit be traced baclv to a certain garden, in 

 which ^'grew every tree that was pleasant to look upon,'' and in which our 

 great-grandparents were placed "to dress it and to keep it," and in which the 

 first test of the quality of fruit was made ; but this would add nothing to our 

 knowledge of any practical benefit, so we dismiss the ancient and speculative 

 and come at once to the present and practical. 



Fruits of dififerent classes and kinds have each their peculiar characteristics. 

 Soils and climates liave their peculiarities, also. This being tlie case, it will bo 

 necessary to inquire into these ])cculiarities somewliat in order to arrive at a 

 correct understanding of our subject. In all temperate climates, with suitable 

 soils, fruits are a natural production, Tliese natural fruits are generally very 

 hardy, being natives of botli the soil and climate, but tliey are generally of 

 inferior cpiality. To the im])rovement of these natural fruits we are indebted 

 for all our finer varieties, and while we have made wonderful progress in qual- 

 ity, we luive undoubtedly lost somewhat in hardiness, for, as a rule, I believe 

 our finest varieties possess less hardiness tlian natural fruits. Each of the dif- 

 ferent classes and kinds, however, have their peculiar characteristics, as before 

 stated. Some may l)e grown in almost any soil ; the stiifest clay, the alluvial 

 bottom, the sandy plain, or the rocky mountain side; and in a climate vaiying^ 

 from 125 degrees in the sun to 50 degrees below zero in the shade. Very few, 

 however, if any, of our choicest varieties of fruits can endure these extremes 

 The grape and the apple are perhaps the best rei)resentatives of extreme hardi- 

 ness, succeeding tolerably well in a greater diversity of soils and climates than 

 any other kinds of fruit in general cultivation. Tiiis extreme liardincss, their 

 great productiveness, their almost innumerable varieties, adapted to all climates 

 from the frigid to the torrid zone, their adaptability and healthfulness as 

 human food ; these, and many other good qualities, constitute them the most 

 valuable of any two kinds of fruits with which our Creator has blessed ns. 

 Notwithstanding this extreme hardiness of the hardiest varieties of these fruits, 

 there are but few localities, coinpuratively, where the finer varieties can be suc- 

 cessfully grown and are really at home. 



If this is the case with these, the hardiest of our fruits, what have we to 

 expect from our more delicate fruits, natives of a warmer climate, that wo 

 have transferred to a climate not congenial to them, being subject to extremes 

 entirely beyond their poM'ers of endurance? This applies more particularly to 

 our special favorite, the peach. This delicious, universal favorite, the most 

 beautiful of all fruits, is one of the tenderest grown in the open air in any of 

 the northern States, and can be successfully grown in but very few localities. 

 Being such a universal favorite, such a delicious fruit, so beautiful, and lasting 

 so short a time, it is no wonder that it sells for high prices — among the highest 

 of any fruit grown. It is also the most productive perhaps of any fruit. 

 With all tliese good qualities and requisites for money-making, there is one 

 serious drawback, viz, : their inability to withstand extremes. The conditions 

 of both soil and climate must be favorable, or failure is certain. This being 

 the case, it is of the utmost importance that we know in advance the requisites 

 of success, Thev will not succeed in a very heavv clav. Thev will not sue- 

 ceed in a wet soil heavy or light. They will not succeed where the temperature 

 is frequently 20 to 30 degrees below zero, for the latter frequently destroys the 

 life of the tree, and tlie former that of the fruit buil. I'ut this is only nega- 

 tive information. 



