4 STATE POMOLOQICAL SOCIETY. 



entertained, of the resources and capabilities of the new country, 

 must have induced, and warranted the earliest settlers in attempt- 

 inp^ the improvement of the indigenous fruits by cultivation, and 

 by such auxiliary and artificial means of amelioration as were then 

 known, or as circumstances permitted them to employ ; as well as 

 in the introduction of the better fruits to which they had been 

 accustomed in the mother country. As to how far and with what 

 degree of success these processes were attempted in this State, 

 prior to the beginning of the present century, we have only 

 meagre accounts ; but some isolated facts have been hastily 

 gathered in relation to 



The History of Orcharding in Maine, 



which are introduced merely as contributions to an interesting his- 

 torical study, and for the purpose of demonstrating that orcharding 

 is not a " modern invention " in this State, but that it has a history 

 reaching back to the time of the earliest settlement, quite as remote 

 and full of interest, and as extensive in proportion to the popula- 

 tion, as that of the same industry in the so-called " older States." 



Dr. Holmes, in the address before referred to, (see Agricultural 

 Report 1855, page 223,) says, — " It is very probable that the his- 

 tory of most of the orchards and fruit culture in Maine, being 

 comparatively of recent date, might, by a little well-directed effort, 

 be learned and recorded." But this effort seems never to have 

 been made ; and hence it is, that while the history of every old 

 orchard, and almost of every individual tree, in Massachusetts, 

 has been sought out and recorded by dilligent and competent 

 students, Maine has no written history in that department ; and 

 this, doubtless, led Dr. Holmes to add, — " but that of the older 

 sections of New England, whence Maine was settled, is not so 

 easily ascertained." This, of course, applies to the interior towns, 

 which were in fact, settled largely from the sources indicated ; and 

 not to the older and original settlements on and near the seaboard ; 

 and I wish it understood that it is not myipurpose to criticise, in 

 a controversial spirit, the remarks of the learned Doctor, but 

 rather to ascertain his true stand-point, and reconcile his state- 

 ments with ascertained facts and necessary inferences. 



It might be as truly said of Massachusetts as of Maine, " that 



not be made in those parts as in Bordeaux in France; being under the same degree." 

 New England Prospect, chap. V. Expectations which it has taken two centuries to 

 realiie! 



