336 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



December, 1872. On the low ground it was a little lower. Our peach buds 

 are not hurt at all, and the young wood is perfect to the tips. No discoloration 

 of the inner bark. Our new wood was well ripened last fall, and we had no 

 after swelling of buds. Where there is much fall swelling of the buds, Craw- 

 fords will not stand a wind storm at 8° below. There is a great difference in 

 the damaging effects between a ivind storm and a clear still morning of the 

 same temperature. I have seen a quarter of a crop of seedling peaches, where, 

 in the preceding winter, two thermometers in close proximity, on a clear still 

 morning showed, one 23*^, and the other 24" below zero. Two years ago this 

 winter we did not go below zero, on the high ground at this i^lace, and in the 

 two preceding winters 4*^ below was the lowest point reached." 



D. E. Waters, of Spring Lake, Ottawa county, reported all peach buds 

 nnharmed excepting the Crawford, and plenty of that variety are yet good. 

 The thermometer indicated 11*^ below zero at Grand Haven on the forenoon 

 of the 24th of December, 1872, according to the government reporter. Ordi- 

 nary thermometers at Spring Lake, at same time, indicated 14^^ to 16*^ below. 



President Dyckman, who was familiar with the county, reported for 

 Allegan county. He said that the peach trees upon the heights of that county 

 "were generally in good condition for fruit-growing, notwithstanding the cold. 



Mr. H. E. Bidwell, of South Haven, Van Buren county, reported that the 

 Early Crawford and Smock's Free varieties of peaches were injured the most. 

 The other varieties were comparatively unharmed, and he anticipated a good 

 •crop of peaches the coming season. The morning of December 22d, 1872, was 

 the coldest day of the season, when the thermometer marked from 10^*^ to 16*^ 

 below zero. 



Mr. Gregory, of Pine Grove, Van Buren county, said that he lived 18 miles 

 from Lake Michigan, at an altitude of 150 feet above the lake. On the morn- 

 ing of the 22d, at 7 o'clock, the mercury stood 13*^ below zero. He thought 

 that the majority of the peach buds were uninjured, and he anticipated a good 

 <3rop of fruit. Two-years-old trees were the worst injured. 



Mr. A. R. Nowlen, of Berrien County, reported that the mercury fell on 

 December 22d, as marked by his thermometer at Benton Harbor, to 22° below 

 zero. Others indicated not so low. The buds at St. Joseph promised a good 

 crop of peaches. He thought that seven-eighths of the perfect buds had been 

 destroyed. The remaining eighth would produce a larger crop of fruit than 

 the trees could bear. 



Reports from Cass county announced that peaches and raspberries were 

 injured, but apples and pears looked exceedingly good. This was the informa- 

 tion of Mr. Hathaway, of Little Prairie Ronde. 



Mr. Holt, of Cascade, Kent county, thought that on his place, which was on 

 low ground, last year's growth of wood on peach trees had been killed by the 

 frost. Other kinds of fruit were uninjured. 



Mr. Husted, of Lowell, Kent county, thought that in his section five-sixths 

 of the peach buds had been killed. The other varieties of fruit were uninjured. 

 The thermometer at 8 o'clock on the morning of December 24th was 24*^ 

 below zero. 



Mr, Bradfield, of Ada, Kent county, reported the mercury down to 40° below 

 on December 24th. Where the thermometer went so low as that he did not 

 ■expect any of last year's wood on peach trees was alive. His grape vines were 

 also injured. His vineyard was about 150 feet above Grand River. He advo- 

 cated the laying down of vines. 



