90 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1892. 



elevated plains or lower mountain slopes. On trees of both 

 plain and mountain forests of the more open sort — chiefly on 

 elms, alders and oaks — two species of mistletoe grew in the 

 greatest profusion. On the mountains and in the swamps grew 

 in abundance several species of tender annuals belonging to 

 the gourd family ; and in similar localities were to be found 

 several other sub-tropical or warm temperate species not usually 

 found in so high latitudes. And yet where these plants and the 

 species of bamboo grass already mentioned flourished, the peach, 

 the quince, and our hardy raspberries and blackberries were 

 usually sadly winter-killed. Many times have I seen every inch 

 of such trees and shrubs which protruded above the snow utter- 

 ly destroyed ; and often the roots only survived the winter. 

 Why this apparent anomaly ! Some of you are prepared for 

 the assertion that the deep snows atford protection to the sub- 

 tropical indigenous plants mentioned ; and in so far as the ten- 

 der herbs and bamboo sirass are concerned this is doubtless the 

 true explanation ; but how with the magnolias and the mistletoe? 

 Surely the snow cannot protect these, for the branches of other 

 trees bearing the latter are far above its surface. 



The explanation is doubtless this : the indigenous species have 

 become inured to the climate : they are not deceived, if I may be 

 allowed the expression, by the favoring warmth and moisture of 

 the autumn. Winter's cold finds their buds and wood prepared 

 to resist its destructive action. Not so the peach, the quince, 

 and the berry bushes from America. The comparatively rich 

 soil and the warm and humid air promote a rapid and long-con- 

 tinued growth which is readily destroyed by the too quickly 

 succeeding cold. That this is the case is evident from the fact 

 that these fruits are cultivated with a fair degree of success on 

 the soils of the lightest and poorest description to be found in 

 the vicinity. On the average soils of the island a requisite to 

 the successful culture of these fruits is winter protection, which 

 I found could be best given by simply bending to the ground 

 and holding there in such a manner that the snows, which 

 usually accumulated to the depth of three or four feet, would 

 cover and protect. 



Yesso is not particularly rich in indigenous fruits ; compara- 



