SECRETARY'S REPORT. 79 



never disturbing the roots with the plough or spade. The 

 practice of seeding down orchards to grass or grain, except on 

 the over rich soils like those of the West, should be carefully 

 avoided. Neither can the digging of small circles around the 

 trunks of trees in grass land be recommended as of any great 

 benefit, as the roots of mature trees, extend far beyond the 

 outlines of these circles. 



The influence of soils on certain kinds of fruits is remarkable. 

 Some succeed on any tolerably good lands ; some best on light, 

 loamy, half silicious soils, others require a strong, rich, and yet 

 feathery bottom to bring them to perfection. The limits of 

 this report will not permit of the specification of the particular 

 soil and location for each variety, and only to allude very 

 briefly to these particulars in the catalogue herewith presented. 

 It is hoped, however, that in coming time, this information 

 may be obtained and diffused through the agency of this Board 

 in regard to all the fruits that may be adapted to the soils of 

 our Commonwealth. 



2d. The necessary adaptation of varieties to the constituents 

 of the soil, and to the proper location, aspect or exposure, for 

 the production of fine fruit. 



Particular attention should be given not only to the location 

 but to the aspect and exposure of fruit trees. A common 

 error is to disregard the time of ripening. The warmest sites 

 and most genial locations are frequently selected for the early 

 varieties. These should be assigned to our latest sorts which 

 require sheltered or southern exposure and a warm and fertile 

 soil. The most favorable location is not so indispensably 

 necessary for the early, as for the late fruits, the former 

 ripening under the more direct rays of the sun and in a much 

 higher temperature. We should also have regard to the differ- 

 ent ability of fruit trees to resist cold and other meteorological 

 agents. Some kinds are suited^'to one location, some to another, 

 and a very few flourish in a great variety of latitudes. 



As to tlie means of protecting fruit trees from injuries by 

 the fluctuation of the temperature we need more knowledge. 

 So powerful is the influence of temperature and aspect, that the 

 Belgians in their descriptive catalogues, describe the site cast, 

 west or south, most favorable to each sort. In regard to shelter 



