PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 23 



Of late years, contrary to the custom early adhered to, and ignoring 

 the experience of the older cultivators, many vineyards have been set on 

 low lands and in medium low situations. 



In all these low-land vineyards fruit and foliage were utterly destroyed. 

 In vineyards in slightly elevated places the fruit suffered utter extinction, 

 but the leaves and new growth in part remained; at least, in such situa- 

 tions the vines soon recovered and restored their foliage. 



In vineyards on the hills there was even less fruit in most of them, but 

 generally a good portion of the foliage remained green and seemingly 

 unhurt except in the hollows and depressions where, if too deep, the vines 

 were cut down to the roots and recovered only by putting forth new 

 growth from the surface of the ground. Thus, as the result of the frost 

 in May, 1894, the fruit was destroyed in all vineyards except in those on 

 the highest lands, and generally, in these latter situations, the damage 

 was confined chiefly to the hollows and depressions and certain westerly 

 exposures that seem to have suffered unduly; so that, in the aggregate, 

 there were still enough vineyards so fortunately placed as to render the 

 total shipment of grapes quite large. There were vineyards that returned 

 nearly a full average crop; certainly a satisfactory revenue. 



It was noticeable after the frosts of May, 1894, that on the hills those 

 vineyards escaped injury the best that sloped to the east or that had 

 higher ground on the west. Such situations escaped the frost almost 

 wholly. All western and northern exposures proved less fortunate. 



Vineyards that were suitably cared for during the summer, even on low 

 lands, recovered from the effects of the frost sufficiently to make good 

 growth of wood, and at the close of the season were in fair condition for 

 trimming; and they came through the winter in the usual good condition 

 — in fact, looking extremely well. Up to the 11th of May last the out- 

 look for a crop of fruit was most excellent. But on the date mentioned 

 the weather turned suddenly from extreme heat to excessive cold, the 

 mercury sinking to the freezing point in the night, with a high wind from 

 the north. The effect of this cold wind, with frost, was plainly visible the 

 next day in the withered appearance of the foliage of the trees and vines 

 on the side toward the north. 



Subsequently, on the 14th of May, occurred a severe snow storm. The 

 snow fell in quantity sufficient to cover the ground and the vines, and the 

 weather was extremely cold, even to the freezing point, so that small 

 icicles could be seen depending from the leaves, etc., of the trees. 



As the result of the previous cold wind and the cold snow storm the ten- 

 der clusters of grapes showed a change of color from the bright, clear, 

 healthy green to a light grayish-drab tinge. Some anxiety was felt as to 

 what would be the final effect of these storms on the fruit, but as yet the 

 foliage was, substantially everywhere, all right. 



On the night of the 17th occurred a very severe frost that cut down 

 utterly the leaves on the vines on all low lands and in all unfavorable sit- 

 uations; but did not, apparently, materially affect the vines in more ele- 

 vated localities ; that is, it did not as a rule. There were exceptions. A 

 few vineyards were severely hurt that had escaped the frost a year pre- 

 vious, and others that were injured the year before were not affected on 

 this occasion. 



