STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 65 



killed by the winter, and then there will be a number of branches 

 thrown out all around, and perhaps at the very crown of the tree. 

 I should like if they would explain to us how they manage in those 

 cases to get a good, straight and solid trunk. Perhaps it can be 

 done in all cases ; but I would like to inquire if there are not 

 difiSculties about it ? 



If the question should be decided in the affirmative, that Maine 

 can grow her own fruit trees, — and I believe she can, — then the 

 next question is implied by some remarks m^ade by the gentleman 

 from Hallowell, (Mr. Atherton). And I do not understand the 

 question to be raised whether we had better go without trees or 

 buy abroad, but, does our soil and climate aiford such advantages 

 that we can profitably grow fruit trees, or can they be grown in 

 the nursery at such a price as will induce the people to buy them, 

 in preference to foreign trees ? I have no practical experience of 

 any consequence in regard to that matter, but I have some expe- 

 rience in regard to kindred subjects, and it would seem to me, 

 from any estimate that 1 can make, that, unless there are very 

 great obstacles in the way, nursery trees as good as those which 

 we buy abroad , can be grown and sold here at a profit of ten cents 

 each. 1 want to know what the drawbacks are which make it 

 necessary for us to give thirty-five cents apiece for trees, and which 

 discourage the farmers of Maine from going into the nursery 

 business extensively, and supplying the entire home demand. 

 The difficulty cannot be that there is not soil enough for the trees 

 to stand on, because the nursery tree requires but four feet of 

 ground, and the tree in the orchard requires four rods. And if 

 we have not soil enough for the nurseries, where are we going to 

 place the orchards ? And I certainly think it must be true that 

 the preparation of the ground for the orchard, and the necessary 

 capital required, is greater than would be required for growing 

 the trees in the nursery. 



I would like to say one word in reference to what was said 

 about the character of the tree being established in the seed. It 

 seems to me there can be but one opinion in regard to that. Its 

 essential charactej;- is fixed in the growing of the seed, and it is 

 only the development of the seed that can be varied by culture, 

 or by the after treatment of the tree. Then, if that is so, and if 

 when the seed grows, the character and quality of the tree which 

 that seed will produce is thus fixed, may it not be true that seed- 

 lings produced from seeds grown in any given climate, are more ' 



