SITE FOR AN ORCHARD. 209 



certain for themselves what varieties are best adapted to 

 the peculiarities of their soil and climate ; hence, no one 

 region can furnish lists of varieties to be taken as a guide 

 for the planting of others differently situated. Hence, 

 too, the importance of local organizations for pomological 

 study, and the great value of the labors of those who are 

 engaged in the prosecution of these investigations in the 

 American Pomological Society, which will, it is fondly 

 hoped, ultimately give us corrected lists of fruits that are 

 adapted to all the varying circumstances of soil and 

 climate, in each of the great geological regions of our 

 country. This has already been proposed by the excellent 

 general chairman of Fruit Committees, as an important 

 wurk for the National Society ; and so soon as the subject 

 receives a fail 1 consideration, its merits will be appreciat- 

 ed, and a union of the best minds, and the best experience 

 of the pomologists of each district, will be concentrated 

 upon this labor. 



Let me not be misnpprehende 1 in the statement, just 

 made, with regard to the wide distribution of which the 

 apple appears to be capable. There are soils and situa- 

 tions, in all of the widely-separated regions alluded to, 

 that are wholly unfitted to orchard culture, upon which it 

 were folly to plant an apple-tree ; and yet, many of those 

 may be rendered entirely suitable, if subjected to treat- 

 ment, suggested by science, and executed by human inge- 

 nuity and industry ; the missing element may be supplied, 

 the compactness of the soil may be overcome by mechani- 

 cal comminution, and by that effected by aeration ; the ex- 

 cessive moisture may be removed by surface and thorough 

 drainage; other disqualifications, such as those of situa- 



