INTRODUCTION. 19 



many places where the soil is not adapted to the produc- 

 tion of grain. — ^The I'eader is referred to the chapter on 

 select lists in another part of this volume, in which an at- 

 tempt will be made to present the readei- with the opinions 

 of the best pomologists of various parts of the country. 



It were an interesting and not unprofitable study to ' 

 trace the various sources and routes by which fruits have 

 been introduced into different parts of our extended coun- 

 try. In some cases we should find that we were indebted 

 for these luxuries to the efforts of very humble individu- 

 als, while in other regions the high character of the or- 

 chards is owing to the forethought, knowledge, enterprise, 

 and liberality of some prominent citizen of the infant com- 

 munity, who has freely spent his means and bestowed his 

 cai-es in providing for others as well as for his own neces- 

 sities or pleasures. But it is to the intelligent nurserymen 

 of our country that we are especially indebted for the uni- 

 versal diffusion of fruits, and for the selection of the best 

 varieties in each different section. While acting separate- 

 ly, these men were laboring under great disadvantages, 

 and frequently cultivated certain varieties under a diver- 

 sity of names, as they had received them from various 

 sources. This was a difficulty incident to their isolation, 

 but the organization of Pomological Societies in various 

 parts of the country, has enabled them in a great measure 

 to unravel the confusion of an extended synonymy, and 

 also by comparison and consultation with the most intel- 

 ligent fruit-growers, they have been prepared to advise 

 the planter as to the best and most profitable varieties to 

 be set out in different soils and situations. 



Most of our first orchards were planted with imported 



