CULTURE AND PRESERVATION OF FRUIT. 95 



way through the whole season without any extra feed. He has 

 never raised a hill of corn to feed to his stock since I have 

 known him. He does not feed any meal or anything through 

 the season until his roots are ready in the fall. Farmers with 

 us must pasture their mowed lands, or they can never make 

 farming a profitable business. 

 Adjourned to 2 o'clock. 



Afternoon Session. 

 The Board met at the hour appointed, and took up the 

 subject of 



FRUIT CULTURE. 



The President. I have the pleasure of introducing to you 

 the champion of Pomology in this country, the Hon. Marshall 

 P. Wilder, who will give you a lecture on Fruits and their 

 Cultivation. 



Ladies and Gentlemen, — The culture of fruits, or in modern 

 language, the science of pomology, occupies so broad a field of 

 research, that anything like a thorough discussion would require 

 more time than can be allotted to me on this occasion ; but I 

 am most happy to render any service that may be required of 

 me by this Board. 



The grain and vegetables of the earth may be considered as 

 the substantial of life, but the fruits of the garden and the 

 orchard I have ever viewed as the overflowings of God's bounty. 

 Whether as a luxury, contributing to health and the gratifica- 

 tion of the" appetite, or as a profitable crop for the farmer, the 

 subject, even here in Massachusetts, from whence primarily 

 emanated the great interest in fruit culture which now has 

 spread over so wide an extent of our country, does not receive 

 the careful attention it demands. Great as is the fame of 

 Massachusetts as the pioneer of American pomology, extensive 

 as has been her influence in exciting a spirit of emulation in this 

 branch of industry, splendid indeed as have been her acquisi- 

 tions and exhibitions of fruit, yet it must be acknowledged that 

 her soil and climate are not naturally the most propitious for 

 the cultivation of fruits ; but the energy, enterprise and indom- 

 itable perseverance of her sons, have surmounted many of the 



