1854. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



515 



there seems to I)e some exceptions. From the ac- 

 counts of oriental travellers, may -we not believe 

 that the grapes of Eschol are as perfect novyr as 

 when the ciiiefs of Israel plucked their rich clus- 

 ters three thousand years ago? — and that the 

 same variety of tlic fig, the olive, and the pome- 

 granate, are as perfect in Syria to-day as in the 

 period of David and Solomon? It is worthy of 

 inquiry whether the native grapes, on the banks 

 of our rivers, have deteriorated since the day 

 when the rod men of the forest refreshed them- 

 selves with fruit from those vines, and whether 

 the orange, the lemon, the banana, and the fruits 

 of Southern latitudes, evince any more signs of 

 decay than they did centuries ago 1 In a word^ 

 whether this doctrine of deterioration is as appli- 

 cable to the native as to the foreign fruit of a 

 country ? 



Why may we not expect to obtain natural vari- 

 eties of the apple and other fruit as durable and 

 far more valuable than those which have passed 

 their second ooii-tcnnial, as the Endicott and Stuy- 

 vesant pears! From meteorological and other 

 causes, which we do not at present understand, 

 particular varieties may deteriorate in a given lo- 

 cality, for a season, and afterwards revive ; or, 

 they may show signs of decay in one locality and 

 flourish well in others not very remote, as the 

 White Doyenne which has been considered, for 

 many years, by some in this vicinity, on the de- 

 cline, while it is perfect in several places in 

 Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and other 

 states. Fruit-bearing may exhaust the vital 

 energy of the tree, and hasten decay, but still the 

 variety may remain. We have, among fruit 

 trees, no exam|jle of longevity equal to that of 

 the new Taxodium, found in California, supposed 

 to be three thousand years old. Our object is not 

 to controvert the opinions of those who believe in 

 the running out of varieties, whether their dura- 

 tion be limited to one hundred or one thousand 

 years, but to enforce the importance of raising 

 new varieties from seed, especially adapted to our 

 own location." 



Mr. Wilder discussed the arts of cultivation, 

 the affinities and the non-affinities of the stock 

 and graft, the art of preserving and maturing 

 fruits. The latter he deemed of the greatest im- 

 portance and but imperfectly undei'stood. He 

 closed as follows — 



"Gentlemen: — The facilities affijrded us for the 

 promotion of pomological science should animate 

 our exertions and encourage our hopes. Never 

 before have cultivatoi-s of the soil enjoyed equal 

 opportunities for the acquisition of knowledge, 

 for its rapid and extensive difi'usion, and for the 

 advancement of those arts which contribute so 

 much to tlie refinement and social happiness of 

 mankind. 



The age in which it is our good fortune to live 

 is indeed eventful — so infinitely superior to all 

 that have preced(;d it, that we seem to liave issued 

 from relative darkness into the dawn of a brighter 

 day. We ])egin to see where we arc, what cheer- 

 ing prospects are before us, and to anticipate the 

 glorious destiny that awaits us. 



I congratulate you upon the opportunity tire 

 present occasion affords for the interchange of! 

 cordial salutations, and of the personal experience' 

 whicli makes the knowledge of one the property 

 of all — upon the variety of our soil and climate,! 



which enables us to produce nearly all the fruits 

 of the civilized world — upon the progress of the 

 arts of cultivation, and of a knowledge of the 

 principles upon which those arts depend — upon 

 the increasing interest of all classes of society in 

 the growth of fruits, and the number of fine va- 

 rieties which have recently been added to our lists 

 — ujion the skill displayed in rural architecture 

 and landscape gardening in the suburbs of our 

 cities and throughout our land — and upon the 

 multiplication of societies and periodicals, which 

 invite the lovers of nature to participate in the 

 blessings which flow from rural fife and cultivated 

 taste. 



If our present exhibition of fruits is less exten- 

 sive than it would have been but far the remark- 

 able drought, yet could our Puritan sires examine 

 it, with what astonishment would they be filled. 

 For instance, could Governors Endicott and Stuy- 

 vesant inspect our collection of pears, with what 

 pleasure would they look back to the planting of 

 the trees that still live and bear their names. 

 And with what eloquence would they exhort us 

 to perseverance, that our names also may go 

 down to posterity honorably associated with the 

 fruits of our labors ! 



But much remains to be accomplished. Im- 

 provements may hereafter be made more remark- 

 able than any which have hitherto astonished 

 mankind. Implements of industry may yet be 

 invented still further to facilitate our labor, and 

 to relieve its severity. Natural laws may be dis- 

 covered upon which arts of a more successful cul- 

 tivation may be founded. Remedies and agents 

 may hereafter be discovered and applied for the 

 cure of the diseases and for the destruction of the 

 insects at present so injurious to vegetation. An 

 these are not only possible but probable; for, ill 

 the very constitution of our minds and of the ma- 

 terial world, our benevolent Creator has provided 

 for endless progress, and for a continual approach 

 towards his own unapproachable perfection. 



But how much study and experiment are requi- 

 site before we can touch the magic spring which 

 shall reveal these wonders to our perception! We 

 have no prophetic eye to look down the vista of 

 ages and to discover the future; but, judging from 

 the past, what incentives encourage our perse- 

 verance ! 



Gentlemen, go on. Prosecute the work you 

 have so honorably commenced. Sow the seeds of 

 your best fruits — raise new varieties — ply the 

 arts of judicious cultivation — study the laws of 

 nature and extend your researches and labors till 

 our beloved land shall be adorned with orchards, 

 vineyards, and gardens; and man shall realize the 

 poet's idea of Paradise regained !" 



On motion of Col. llonry Little of Maine, a 

 nominating committee of one from each State, 

 represented l)y delegates, was appointed by the 

 President to nominate officers for the next peren- 

 nial term. The following gentlemen were ap- 

 pointed on this committee: — 



Col. Henry Little of Maine, B. P. Cutter of 

 New Hampshire, Hon. T. S. Cabot of Massachu- 

 setts (President of the Massachusetts Horticul- 

 tural Society) C. B. Lines of Connecticut, Mr. 

 Barry of New York, Mr. Hayes of New Jersey, 

 Dr. Wm. D. Brincklo of Pennsylvania, Samuel 

 Feast of Baltimore, Mr. Hull of Illinois, Mr. iVb- 



