44 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



other Magnolia hypoleuca, chiefly on the dry 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 3'et where these plants and the species of bamboo grass 

 already mentioned flourished, the peach, the quince, and our 

 hardy raspberries and blackberries were usually sadl}' winter- 

 killed. Many times have I seen every inch of such trees and 

 shrubs which protruded above the snow utterly destro^'ed ; and 

 often the roots only survived the winter. Why this apparent 

 anomal}-? Some of you are prepared for the assertion that the 

 deep snows afford protection to the sub-tropical indigenous plants 

 mentioned ; and in so far as the tender herbs and bamboo grass 

 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 : the}' are not deceived, if I may be 

 allowed the expression, b}' 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 too rapid and long-continued 

 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 usuallj- accumulated to the 

 depth of three or four feet, would cover and protect. 



Yesso is not particularly rich in indigenous fruits ; compara- 

 tively few species are collected and used by the inhabitants to any 

 great extent. Those most extensively' used are the following i 



