FRUITS. 95 



last few months to see" or correspond with some of the principal 

 fruit-growers on the island, and gather from them such facts as 

 were supposed to be of utility. The chairman has also been in 

 communication with some few gentlemen of large experience 

 abroad. 



Although there are certain varieties both of trees and vines 

 which are very sure to be found in the lot of nearly every 

 grower — small growers as well as large ones — yet there is not 

 perfect accord as to the superior quality of all of them. These 

 slight differences of opinion doubtless arise in part from varie- 

 ties in soil, and partly from differences in position as to shelter 

 by means of buildings, hills, or shelter trees. Abating these 

 circumstances, there is very general agreement as to the best 

 varieties. 



THE QUINCE. 



This fruit is said to require a climate neither too warm nor 

 too cold. And it has been demonstrated by experience, your 

 Committee think, that our island climate is just that which is 

 best adapted to its successful cultivation. Our soil is also of 

 the right kind. Some of the best produced on our soils last 

 year brought $12 per barrel. It has been estimated by one of 

 our larger exporters that about $3,000 worth was sold from the 

 island last year, besides the many consumed here. The tree, 

 as is well known, is easily cultivated, and if with so little effort 

 as is now made, such proceeds as those named are realized, 

 what might we not do a few years hence, were we to set our- 

 selves about the work of cultivation in earnest now ? The 

 principal varieties now grown among us are the native quince, 

 the orange quince, the pear quince, the Connecticut, and the 

 apple quince ; all of which are good. Mr. Edward T. T. Smith, 

 of Tisbury, has 120 trees of the orange quince. 



THE PEACH. 



The tree bearing this excellent fruit is in this climate apt to 

 be. rather short lived, and yet some varieties are grown with 

 success. Comparatively few trees, however, until recently, have 

 been set out by our citizens. The peach is said to be derived 

 from Persia, where it still grows in its natural state — small, 

 bitter, and without poisonous qualities. But this fruit, under 



