Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-10-27
American Fruits,

ciety, at the recent session of that body, in
Chicago, we make the following extract upon
the subject noted above
And now, for a moment, permit mo to
call your attention to the consideration OF
the question, How shall we obtain varieties
of fruits which may be adapted 10 the vari-
Gus ATTITUDES of our immense territory
The great loss sustained in the importa-
ton and trials Of trees from foreign shores,
and even from different quarters Of our own
country, which are not adapted to our own
location, suggests the answer that new varie-
ties must be produced from seed. and to the
manner born, TO remedy this evil
The adaptation Of plants to various
climates, aud their distribution over the
earth, involves a study so profound that few
have any definite knowledge on the subject.
why so ne are suited, by their constitution,
to a wide extent of territory, aud are able to
adapt themselves to almost any altitude or
latitude or temperature without material
change, while others are confined to a mar
row limit, and will not prosper elsewhere
or why fruit may succeed in one location,
and few miles distant fail entirely; why
some are aquatic, and some thrive in arid
soils, while others are parasitic, are mysteries
which mankind has not been able TO solve.
The human constitution will frequently en-
dure the change Of country aud climate
but the extent to which plants can bear these
changes is fixed by an immutabe law there
fore, all attempts to acclimate such as are
not naturally congenia will fail in the end,
except It be within very narrow limits-not,
however, that a tree or plant may not some
times endure greater degrees Of cold or heat
than 1t is subject to IN its native climate;
but no ono should suppose that time will
produce a physiological or constitutional
change in them.
1t is, however, sufficient for rs to know
that we can produce from seed fruits, which,
by their constitution and habits, are capable
of enduring the cold and heat the drought
and moisture, and other yicissitudes of the
region we inhabit but the idea that we can
accustom tree or plant to conditions not
consistent with its laws of being, is a chimera
Of the imagination. The only acclimation
that we can rely on for obtaining trees and
plants Of stronger constitution is the pro-
ducton of new varieties from seed hybrid
lied by hand of man, or naturally cross fer
tilted by insects or the air. Whatever opin-
ions may have been entertained, to this we
must come at last, that, for the acquisition
Of hardy, valuable fruits, adapted to the va
rious locations of our vast territory, we must
depend mainly on the production from seed
Thus | have discoursed to you for many
years--thus have | promised to do while
| live.
"Much has already been accomplished by
the production of new varieties of American
fruits from seed, but how little, compared
with the results obtained in other lands by
the art Of Adjudication in the vegetable king
dom. To this art we are mainly indebted
for the numerous fine varieties of grains,
vegetables and flowers introduced in our
own time, and the same success will reward
similar efforts TO produce new and valuable
fruits suited to our own climes. Says Prof.
Gray, in his admirable essay at our last ses-
sion, Most of our esteemed and important
fruits have not so much been given TO man,
as made by him, and mans work in this re-
spect is mainly TO direct the course or ten
dency of nature The success which has
attended the American florist in the produc-
ton Of new and fine varieties of the camcla,
the rose, and other plants which rival the
choicest varieties of the Old World, is in
deed remarkable, and it will be far greater
when the same scientific knowledge is ap-
piled to the production of native fruits.
1.-THE laws which govern the procreation
of species by cross impregnation are now SO
well understood by those who have scientific
Thus, the farmer as well as the florist is pro-
ducing results which, as to form, habit color
proportion and beauty, surprise the operator
himself, when he sees how kindly nature CO.
operates with his efforts TO bring forth the
object Of his desires. There may be disap-
pointments--these are the lot of humanity
but the philosophical principle is correct, and
the results of practice are now universally
acknowledged; and although the improve
ment sought for may not be realized in
every instance, experience has taught us
that it will come at last. But my object is
to encourage our cultivators in the belief
that, by the sowing of the seeds of our best
varieties, and by cross impregnation there
is wide field open for improvement, and
that all other attempts at acclimation are
fruitless. And have you ever thought, my
friends, of the many fine fruits which you
might have raised by the sowing of seeds
which yon have carelessly thrown away
Not that would discourage the planting
and proving of the now varieties from other
regions, holding fast such as are suited; and
where they do not succeed in one location, it
is possible they may be adapted to another.
This is especially true with regard to the
varieties of tho strawberry. While one cul-
tivator cannot grow the variety bearing my
name, another declares he will grow no
other and thus with the IIovey's Seeding,
which, after forty-two years of existence, has
this year carried off the highest prize offered
by the Massachusetts, horticultural Society,
for the strawberry.