FARMERS INSTITUTES. 



221 



WINTER KILLING OF THE FKUIT BUDS. 



We are often asked what temperature will kill the fruit buds of 

 the peach. This will depend wholly upon circumstances. Under cer- 

 tain conditions the buds can safely withstand a temperature of twenty 

 degrees below zero, while at other times ten degrees below will kill 

 them all. The principal cause of the killing of the fruit buds is that 

 during sunny days in late winter, the buds will absorb sufficient warmth 

 from the sun to stimulate them into a very slight growth. This growth 

 is not perceptible to the naked eye, but is readily detected by the aid 

 of a magnifying glass when the bud is carefully split open. Contrary- 



Fig. S.— How Fig. 



was pruned. 



to popular ojainion, this growth takes place independent of the roots, as 

 the ground may be frozen hard to a depth of several inches and there 

 can be no movement of sap. 



Then the extent of the injury from subsequent freezes will depend 

 largely upon the extent of the growth that has taken place in the buds. 

 If there has been several successive days of warm weather in February 

 or late in January, zero weather afterward is liable to kill a great many 



