The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-07-08
Natural Localities for PIanrx.


guide in the selection of soil or climate
Tor different kinds of plants is one of
those fallacies which has caused the
human race many and bitter disappoint-
ments. The discoveries of Martha's
vineyard no doubt thought that they had
found land especially adapted to the
growth OF the grape because Wild vines
aDounded everywhere on that island; but
time and experience have shown that wild
grapes thrive where the improved and
cultivated sorts fail. No sane man
would think of planting a vineyard in a
swamp, and still it is in just such situa
ton that we find wild vines most album
dant.
What is true with the grape is also
true with hundreds of other fruits and
plants. The experienced horticulturists
have learned that nature is no guide in
the selection of soil or location for Gull
tlVated plants, but the sentimental
traveller and enthusiastic pioneer, pene-
trating the newer regions of our coun-
Try, seldom fail to note that certain wild
fruits abound in the locality whence he
writes; accordingly he asserts that the
cultivated softs of the same genus must
certainly succeed when afforded trial.
Inc wild crab apple, plum, cherry, cur
rant and raspberry abound in every val
ley and wood in Wisconsin, and all the way
up to northern Minnesota and westward
into and across the Rocky Mountains.
ana these seem to the pioneers unmistak-
able Indications of the success of cult
va-ed sorts; but a practical test has
shown that there are only very few ia
vored spots in all these regions where
any of the choice improved fruits will
| thrive.
We have only to look into our gardens
and fields b tindtestimony in abundance
proving hoy fallacious is the idea that
nature always places either plants or
animals IN situations best adapted to
their DEVELOPMENT or perfection. Not
one weed in 4 dozen that grows so rank
ly in the fell is indigenous to this con-
tinent; in fact the indigenous plants of a
country seldom become pests in cult
waited fields. The old "cursed thistle"
of Europe seems to have run wild and
become great pest in America. where
the original name has become corrupted
luBO Cdudud unBUl6.
Not only do the plants which we des-
ignate as weeds thrive better in this than
in their native country, but also the use
full kinds, such as the various cereals,
fruits and roos. Our own country,
however, is so extensive, and possesses
so wide rangeof climate and soil, that
to move plants from one part to another
may subject them to as great change
as crossing the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean;
in fact, there greater difference be-
tween the soil and climate of the plains
of the West AMI the Eastern States than
between thoseof the latter and any part
of northern Europe. Hence it would not
be strange if pome of the wild plants of
the Rocky Mountain regions should
eventually become noXious weeds in the
Eastern States. or if others should be-
come greatly improved under cultiva-
ton.
The effeG of soil and climate upon
plants is probably as well if not better
illustrated IN the growth and quality of
the common potato than by any other
plant in general cultivation. AS is now
well known, the so-called Irish potato is
a native of nearly all the deep valleys
and canons of the eastern Rocky Noun
tains from Colorado southwark into
Mexico, and probably along the higher
parts of the Andes in South America.
In its native state the tubers are seldom
larger than good-sized acorns, but OIL
various shapes and colors. AS far as we
have seen, the flowers are always white
and the leaves very small, but enough
like the cultivated plant to be readily
recognized as potato leaves. The valley;
or native habitant of the potato are ele.
waited 5000 to 5000 feet above the sea-
the climate is always cool, in some 10.
calities extremely cold, and often very
dry-so dry, in fact, that the wild plants
frequently remain dormant for two OF
three years, and when the rains come al
last they push forth with renewed vigor
Strange as it may seem, the cultivated
or improved sorts very frequently will
not thrive in the same soil where the
wild ones are most abundant, while two
or three miles up the canons or valleys
or at an elevation of 1000 or 5000 fee
above the wild plantations, the improved
sorts grow to large size, and are of ar
exceedingly fine quality. 1t would seen
from this that the wild tubers had ir
time been washed down from higher
and more congenial soil and climate tx
one where they thrive but imperfectly
Whatever may be the cause, the fact i;
we'll known to the ranchmen in the
Rockies that it will not always answer
to select soil filled with the plants of wilc
potatoes for a plantation of the cultiva
ted sorts.
We might, if necessary, note hundred;
of similar instances of natures being ;
poor or unsafe guide in selecting soil OF
climate for any particular kind of plant
but our readers can probably call tt
mind sufficient number to convince
them that both plants and animals otter
wander into uncongenial localities, Oh
are transported into those more congo
NAL than where nature originally PLACED
them.-N Y SIN.