96 ON AN ANOMALOUS FORM OF THE TLUM. 



made for the nuivition of the embryo, it is natural to expect 

 that it would not be developed, nor was it to be found. The 

 ovule then either was not fecundated, or it was destroyed soon 

 after fecundation. Now, as all the parts of a fruit concur 

 towards the development and protection of the new indivi- 

 dual, — if the new individual be not formed, then the other 

 parts need not be developed either, which was precisely the 

 case, as I imagine, in the present instance. By a reference 

 to my Meteorological Journal, it appears that the mean daily 

 temperature in Fredericton in the early part of June, 1839 

 and 1840, was sometimes at 50^ 60^ or 70^, (Fahr.) in the 

 shade; but yet that there were frequent cold winds from the 

 north and east, and north-east, with heavy rains, continuing 

 for days together, just at the period that the Plum-trees were 

 in flower. May and June constitute iu fact the rainy season 

 of New Brunswick ; the air, cooled by the melted ice and snow, 

 is subjected to the rays of an already powerful sun, and the 

 weather thus becomes extremely changeable and uncertain. 

 In the garden where I obtained the specimens accompany- 

 ing this paper, every tree was blighted, except one which was 

 close upon a stable, and thus protected from the north and 

 east. On the tree in question there was not a single blighted 

 plum. It would perhaps be a too hasty generalization to s^y 

 that this explains the whole matter; but probably, the abor- 

 tive fruit of the plum-tree, and the curious appearances above 

 described, may be considered to be materially influenced m 

 their production by the occurrence of cold winds, and long- 

 continued rains during that season when the inflorescence is 

 expanded, and the reproductive organs are of course the most 

 exposed to atmospherical vicissitudes. 



The people of Fredericton assert that this blight of the 

 fruit is owing to insects, and that it may be cured by lime- 

 water; I have however examined with the glass hundreds oi 

 trees, and never could detect any thing but a few Aphides 

 on the leaves, too few, of course, to effect so much mischiei. 

 The soil may exert some influence; but the soil in diiferent 

 gardens is not often alike, and a reference to this cause could 



