14 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



At about the same period, also, considerable attention was given 

 to orcharding in Wiscasset. Prof. Packard of Bowdoiri College, 

 in a recent letter, from which I take the liberty to quote, speaking 

 of his father, (who was for many years the minister of the first 

 parish in this town,) after mentioning several parties who culti- 

 vated grafted fruit prior to 1812, says: " My father grafted his 

 own trees, and was liberal as his means would allow, in encourag- 

 ing the culture of apples, gooseberries, currants and cherries. He 

 raised and ripened one quince, I remember. * * * * j think 

 he introduced into the town the rhubarb plant, a root of which he 

 received from Dr. Vaughn of Hallowell. Of apples he had but 

 few varieties, and was not ambitious of multiplying varieties. As 

 I remarked, [alluding to his address at the recent centennial cele- 

 bration of the church of which his father was the pastor,] bred a 

 farmer's son, he always took deep interest in agriculture generally, 

 but without anything beyond the scanty science of that period." 



Some plum trees and gooseberry bushes, taken from an English 

 ship bound from Liverpool to Halifax, (captured by the privateer 

 " Thomas," in 1813, and brought into Wiscasset as a prize,) were 

 planted and fruited for many years, and from the stock thus ob- 

 tained those fruits were propagated extensively. * These plants 

 when taken were growing in tubs, and the fact is mentioned as 

 illustrating the method of "packing" and transportation then in 

 vogue. It also confirms the tradition in relation to the " Georges 

 apple tree " at York, mentioned on page 11, which was " brought 

 over from England in a tub." 



Many other persons might be mentioned, did not the length of 

 this report forbid it, who, in various sections of the State, inter- 

 ested themselves in fruit culture in the early part of this century ; 

 and whose labors are equally deserving of notice as those named. 

 When the full history of orcharding in Maine shall be written, 

 they will receive the grateful recognition to which they are enti- 

 tled. My present purpose is to show by a few prominent exam- 

 ples, the actual condition of the fruit growing interest at consecu- 

 tive periods, and its progress from time to time. 



Coming down to about the year 1850, we find that at that period, 

 fruit culture had extended over nearly all the settled parts of the 

 State, apparently keeping pace with the other agricultural interests. 

 * Custom House Keoords, Wiscasset. James Taylor, Esq. 



