Western Orchards. 323 



man had discovered by observation what fmits were adapted to his neigh- 

 borhood, and what were unworthy of culture, these strangers continued to 

 flood the country with untried sorts from Eastern nurseries, and with those 

 that had already been tried and found wanting, but which, they assured 

 the credulous, were all the very best kinds for them to plant. 



The unfortunate evils that necessarily followed this cause, eventually 

 worked their own cure, but not until orchard-planting had come to be 

 considered a very precarious business in many parts of the countr}', nor 

 until many planters had lost their orchards from the inability of the varie- 

 ties to withstand the vicissitudes of the climate. At length, the fruit-grow- 

 ers of the countiy began to assemble, and consult together upon topics of 

 the greatest importance to their future success. From these meetings grew 

 the North-western Association; and from it have legitimately descended our 

 several State and local societies, which have done so great a work for the 

 country. 



One of the earliest conclusions of value that was arrived at by the dis- 

 cussions of these fruit-societies was, that many of the noted and highly- 

 praised Eastern varieties were wholly unfitted for the new conditions to 

 which they were exposed. Next it appeared that the Northern origin of a 

 variety was no guaranty of its hardiness in its new Western home, and that 

 some of these varieties had so much vigor while young as to make a late 

 autumnal growth in our fertile soils, and they suffered a mortal blow on 

 the access of the first frost. On the contrary, some of the Southern varie- 

 ties were found to be able to withstand the severity of the Northern winters 

 better than many of New-England origin. 



Requirements. — A valuable result of these consultations was, that our 

 fruit-growers came to an understanding with one another as to the require- 

 ments of a successful variety of fruit. First of these, by common consent, 

 was, that the tree should be perfectly healthy and hardy. Too great a loss 

 had been sustained all over the country to allow these men to reach any 

 other conclusion. No matter how much the adoption of this principle 

 might cut down the lists, an honest nursery-man could no longer recom- 

 mend to his customers those varieties that were known to be tender, and 

 which were liable to be winter-killed. 



The second requisition was, that the tree should be productive in the or- 



