APPLE-ORCHAEDS ON THE ST JOHN. 85 



abundant along the base of the hills, and of the rocky 

 slopes of the older slates and gneiss rocks. In a few- 

 other places in New Brunswick, and afterwards on the 

 trap hills near Newhaven in Connecticut, I observed the 

 same trees growing luxuriantly. Six species of Bhiis 

 are described by Dr Torry as indigenous to the state of 

 New York. The greater number of these grow naturally 

 in rocky and stony places ; but whether the geological, 

 physical, or chemical relations of these rocks and stones 

 have any influence in determining the choice of a natural 

 habitat is not stated by botanists. This department of 

 vegetable physiology has hitherto been comparatively 

 little attended to, though, in the interest of agricultural 

 improvement, it is deserving of especial cultivation. 



We travelled thirty miles down the river from Wood- 

 stock before we escaped from the stony pine-clad 

 country. As we approached the little river Koak, we 

 were greeted by a change in the foliage, some hardwood 

 ridges stretched along the upland, and along the St John 

 rich intervale appeared. We stopped at Mr Heustie's 

 farm, on this intervale, chiefly because he is one of the 

 most extensive apple-growers on the river. 



In the orchard of this gentleman were 1550 apple- 

 trees, for the most part young, but in full bearing. The 

 fruit was in general small, but of a pleasant agreeable 

 flavour. The large delicate apples of the Hudson River, 

 of western New York, and of the Ohio River, are not to 

 be expected, I suppose, in New Brunswick, though the 

 summers are hot enough ; yet fruit of good quality may 

 evidently be raised, and the cultivation for home con- 

 sumption carried on, with a profit. 



It is probable, I think, that the great heat of the sun 

 is in reality a chief cause of the smallness of the fruit, 

 hastening the ripening process before the apple has had 

 time to swell. Its scorching effect was seen upon the 

 fallen fruit, which was dried and altered, as if by artificial 



