406 Remarks on the Botany^ <^c. 



vegetables, to say nothing of flowers. I was told that it 

 were vain to attempt fruit growing on the island, and that 

 even the apple, which flourishes on the main land only a 

 few miles back from the immediate contiguity of the sea, 

 was so exceedingly difficult of growth as to be nearly val- 

 ueless. This failure was attributed to the fogs, a supposed 

 peculiar feature of the east, but for which, the southern 

 and southwestern winds, blowing thus from our own more 

 auspicious climes, are duly honored with their origin and 

 prevalence. An eastern fog is a serious matter, however. 

 1 had heard of such a phenomenon, but one must see it to 

 realize its full extent. Yet, for ten days or more, finer or 

 more delicious sunny, clear, mild, salubrious weather never 

 gladdened the hearts of mortals, than rendered attractive 

 this little spot. But as horticultural science and skilful 

 practice have wrought such wonders with us. in overcom- 

 ing obstacles in the way of climate and of atmospheric 

 conditions, I am inclined still to imagine, that a series of 

 well conducted experiments might do much in the way of 

 introducing superior sorts of fruit where none are now 

 known, A very low degree of cold in winter has been 

 proved not to be prejudicial to many sorts of trees — else, 

 instead of the very fair crops of peaches, for instance, in 

 the vicinity of Boston, during the past summer, we should 

 have expected an universal failure, after the unexampled 

 freezings of the last winter, and the continued long range 

 of the depression of the mercury below zero of Fahrenheit's 

 scale. And although the grape is not found growing in- 

 digenous in the vicinity, yet I saw in one garden not only 

 the fox grape (YUis habrusca) of Massachusetts, of vigor- 

 ous growth, but young vines also of the Isabella, a more 

 southern variety, which is sometimes too tender for the 

 neighborhood of Boston. We have seen what care will do 

 in the production of most superior fruit on the rocky, ocean- 

 lashed promontory of Nahant; and every year gives noAV 

 encouragement to try and keep on trying in the way of 

 experiment. The plum, I was told, used to succeed very 

 well ; and judging from a single tree of the Damson variety, 

 laden with fruit, I should have supposed that nothing but a 

 little more trial and enterprise would repay all cost and 

 trouble. This however, after all, may be theorizing, and a 

 few stubborn facts may overthrow all such pretensions. It 

 certainly will not be denied, however, that with such a 



