No. 199.] 279 



MAINE. 



REPORT OF FRUIT COMMITTEE. 



Pomology, with a few honorable exceptions, has as yet received but 

 a sniall share of attention from the inhabitants of the state of Maine. 

 In fact, the cultivation of choice fruits, till within a few years past, 

 has been almost entirely neglected in by far the greater portion of 

 our state, although we have very good soil, in all the varieties usually 

 found in the other New-England States, Very many, if not most of 

 the varieties of the apple, the plum, and the gooseberry, thrive with 

 us, and may be safely cultivated, as our own experience has, at least 

 partially, proved, in as great perfection as in other States of the 

 Union; and many varieties are improved by being transplanted from 

 other locations to this state. Some select varieties of the pear and 

 cherry may be grown successfully with us, but our climate generally 

 is not «o congenial to the growing of these fruits as that of New- 

 York or Massachusetts. 



The quince has been cultivated even in great perfection by some 

 individuals on the Kennebec river; but in other parts of our state the 

 effort has not been attended with the same success. 



The cultivation of the peach has also proved a failure, excepting 

 in a few instances where the location is very favorable; but we ar-e 

 confid£nt it is not suited to the rigors of our climate. 



We are inclined to believe some hardy and very early varieties of 

 the grape may be cultivated with success. We need a longer sea- 

 son to ripen this fruit. The English Gooseberry thrives with us ad- 

 mirably, and probably in greater perfection than in other states; and 

 is generally very free from mildew. Two of your committee culti- 

 vate about fifty varieties of this berry. The fruit of some kinds 

 attained a very large size, being four inches in circumference, and of 

 first rate flavor. We would respectfully call the attention of the 

 citizens of our State to this fruit as it is well suited to it. 



We find ashes and meadow muck, pounded bones and horn shav- 

 ings to be highly valuable as manures for trees and shrubs, to be used 

 as recommended by Mr. Downing in several numbers of the " Horti- 

 culturist," particularly for the year past. 



Until we have more experience it is not our design to extend our 

 remarks, (especially in this our first report,) further than to complj 



