20 MASSACHUSETTS HOKTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



Persians, and the Syrians left off. by procurina; the varieties which 

 have come down to tliem throngh thonsands of years of careful 

 selections. 



The Mango is anotlier fruit which has until recently been repre- 

 sented on this continent only by a few seedling trees, but I have 

 procured from India grafted plants of a number of their ver}' 

 choicest varieties. These are now in southern Florida, where they 

 are being propagated on young seedlings, and when ready for 

 distribution they will be placed in the hands of those Avho are likely 

 to succeed with them. 



There is not a pound of Filberts in any of the stores of the 

 United States that has not been imported, and it has occurred to 

 me that our own people might produce Avhat our markets demand, 

 if the original stock were placed in their hands. With this pur- 

 pose in view I have endeavored to procure from Europe and the 

 British Islands plants and fresh nuts that a thorough test may be 

 made as to their adaptability to this country. The Puget Sound 

 region seems to be a suitable place for this experiment, as the 

 climatic conditions are fully as good as those in Kent, England, 

 where a large part of the filberts found in our markets are pro- 

 duced, and I think the soil is better. There are doubtless other 

 places where they will succeed quite well. These are onl}' a part 

 ■of the new fruits which I have already been able to procure 

 through our foreign consuls ; and it may not be out of place to sa}' 

 in this connection that, although some critical persons may think 

 that our foreign representatives are gentlemen of only political 

 a1)ilities, I have been convinced by numerous practical demonstra- 

 tions that, as a rule, they are wide awake to the industrial interests 

 of this country. In every case in which I have niade application 

 to them through the Secretary of State, I have been able to secure 

 just what was desired or to get information that it was imprac- 

 ticable to do so. 



It may seem to some persons that the central part of our 

 -country has been overlooked in the procuring of these foreign 

 fruits, but I assure you that this is not the case. Europe is the 

 principal field which can be worked to obtain such fruits as will 

 endure the climate of a large part of our country, and it has been 

 gone over and over for centuries past and very little remains there 

 worthy of introduction. Asia presents a much better opportunity, 

 and if possible we may yet be able to get many valuable things 



