The Portland daily press., 1866-12-17
..o,.,.e Of climate upon plants.

E.av..,e of Climate upon Plants.
In NV last remarked, that almost all plants
which spring out of the bosom of the earth are
improved, both in quantity and qualify by be-
ing cultivated in ATTITUDES more northern than
their original homes, and instanced cotton,
hemp fax, tobacco, rice and potatoes, irish and
sweet In the present paper, we shall find the
same principle true as applied to other familiar
products.
Indian corn, or maize, was first found in the
West Indies by Columbus. Then it grew thir-
ty feet in height and each stalk Tor Tree as
Grant Thurbern would call it, contains only
sing ear, which produces but few solt ker-
nels on a spongy cob, and is used only LOT
coarse fodder. Proceeding northward, in Ala
bama, it reaches fifteen feet, and that yields
thirty bushels to the acre. Advancing still
farther north, in Kentucky and Ohio it produc-
es fifty bushels per acre; but here, in New Eng
land, and in Maine, where it attains only about
eight feet in height, Agricultural Societies
have not unfrequently awarded premiums for
one hundred bushels to the acre. The heat Of
a more southern sun developes the juices of the
plant too quickly; hence it runs at the south
into stalk and blades, to the injury of the seed
or grain, and dries up before fructifcation be-
comes complete. Here, in Maine, the most
northern limit of its success, we can raise
large crops, and secure heavier and more val
liable grain thanin States further South
Wheat is another important cereal. Its ma
tive country is said to be the valley Of the Eu-
pirates, in Mesopotamia, but ON tracing its
progress northward, we shall find it growing
more and more prolific and 1arinaceous, till we
reach the Russian dominions on the Baltic sea,
where wheat is more perfect than in any other
part of Europe or Asia. Wheat is rarity in
our Gulf States 1t is in the North Western
States, in Canada in northern Maine and New
Brunswick that this important grain grows
the most luxuriantly, and makes the best -four
The reason is, that a hot sun too early forces
the plant to head before its farina can be con-
cocted
The same is true of oats and barley. Wild
oats are found in the southern country, but the
grain is not worth threshing out. Who does
not know that the oats of Canada and Aroos-
took yield more per acre, afford a heavier
grain, more suitable for mealing and bread.
than the oats of the South or West?- Before
oats could do the world any good, they had to
come north and get acclimated to these high
ATTITUDES The barley, too, of Maine, is super
ior to barley in the Middle or Southern States.
A cold climate gives the soundest and heaviest
grain.
Onions, beets, carrots, turnips, parsnips and
other nutritious roots are sadly affected by the
hot southern sun, and are hardly worth cult
waiting at the South which must always depend
upon us for such vegetables in the greatest per-
lection. There they fructify before they form
perfect roots, go to seed the first year, and
make foliage at the expense of the tubers.
The grapes are perhaps the most valuable
crop in the United States-more so than cot
ton. These are proverbially in perfection only
in northern and cold regions. True, grapes
can be grown in the sunny Sonth" by plant
ing the ground with the seed every year, as is
done for other annual crops; but when the
first crop is cut, rank and vile weeds spring up
that spoil the field for moving or pasturage.--
1t is impossible to fatten an animal on south
ern grass or southern hay. 1t is without rich
ness or nutriment. The consequence is, that in
all those regions most animals browse from ne
cessity on the foliage and buds of trees and bush
es, and are poor, without size or beauty. In
our pastures, and in our barns, cattle and
horses grow fat on grass and hay. This is be-
cause Of the superior quality of northern grass
es. l never saw such charming fields and pas
lures of rich grass as l have seen in Aroostook
County, when the ground, in the vernal season
is o0varad nth comma xvbita olouo,. xub:o
oxen may grow fat, and by means of which the
hearty cows will give the richest milk for the
sweetest butter in America. If you are farm
er and would go where you would enjoy the
luxury Of the richest feed and choicest butter
let me advise you to turn your face from Seces
STA and go at once to the healthy and fertile val
ley of Aroostook, where the State will sell you
land for fifty cents per acre, and give you four
years in which to pay for it in labor upon the
roads which the State will make to your own
grounds.
On the subject of the delicious and pulpy
fruits, let ME say that these afford a still more
striking illustration of our principle
The apple, pear, peach, nectarine, plum
cherry, currant gooseberry and other fruits
came originally from the South, but are never
found in such perfection there as here. The
apple of the South is an acrid thing, not fit for
the dessert, or to be cooked dry, or expressed
for cider. Plums never mature till they grow
North; they are quite good in New York, but
much better in Maine, especially Bangor and
the Penobscot valley. The peach of Carolina
is gummy, knotty thing never well favored.
1t must travel North till it reaches the latitude
of Philadelphia before it comes to perfection
There are no good grapes in the South, though
that is their native country. The forests and
swamps of Louisiana and Alabama, are full of
the vines which cover the tops of the loftiest
trees, but seldom or never is grape found up
on them. The excess of heat blights the fruit,
and no persons pretend to cultivate it there
We must come North to find good grapes-to
Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. Some va
rieties that are in perfection in those States,
would pass the line of success by emigrating
to Maine, though we have now a few acclimat-
ed kinds that are as prolific and delicious as
the Catawba of Cincinnati
By all this it would seem that Nature allows
and even requires her choicest products, both
of field and garden, to immigrate northward to
are capable of sagacious toll; she does not
make it necessary for northern eultivators to
emigrate South to meet more perfect produc-
tions under hotter sky. Well would it be
for our people if they would take the hint from
Natures indication. The farmer and gardener
of Maine can successfully grow all the best
meats, grains, vegetables and pulpy. fruits
which mother earth has produeed for tha uSa
and delight of man. We have all the elements
of comfort around us. 1t is wise proverb to
"let well enough alone" Let us do this, and
instead of signing for other and better climates.
set ourselves about a cheerful performance of
the duties, and reaping the benefits peculiar to
the fertile and salubrious section in which a
benefcent Providence has cast our lot.
ss. TRAxI
The Horse Railroad Depot.
MIR. EDIroR,-No one wishes to manage the
horse railroad; but when an article aDpears in
PRINT referring strictly to church-goers being