204 Effects of Frost on Dormant Vegetation. [April, 



way, we must not lose sight of the fact, that this is also the result of 

 cUmate. That the tree has been operated on hy natural causes, exerted 

 on it, however, at an unnatural period. That it is hence in a condition ■ 

 to he destroyed by the same agency operating on it in an opposite direc- 

 tion of temperature ; from this then, it will be seen, that it does not 

 necessarily follow, " If plants are killed by frost at all, we must look for 

 the cause more to the spring frosts, after the sap has commenced run- 

 ning." Either case must be viewed as an exertion of the elements at an 

 unnatural period. They certainly are not in harmony, or no hurtful 

 results would be the effect. 



The most important subject however, for our consideration just now, is 

 the action of the temperature of the past winter on our fruits and the 

 tree. Have they been harmed, and if so, what has caused it? Facts 

 are before us, and we can not get rid of them, though our theories may 

 lead us in a different direction. 



Last summer and fall were peculiar for the uniformity of growth, by 

 reason of continued and seasonable rains, which gradually ceased, 

 as the winter approached, and the trees shed their leaves, ripened up 

 their wood and went to rest, and were never in a better condition to 

 resist the effects of ordinary temperature. 



It is true, the winter came in suddenly and very severe, but it was not 

 on an immature and unprepared vegetation. It is also true, that no change 

 did take place after its commencement, to this day, to stimulate and excite 

 vegetation, which is sometimes the case in our climate, and the cause of 

 the destruction of our fruit. No summer was ever more uniform in its 

 general vegetative action, and preparation for the dormant state. And 

 the winter has been remarkable, perhaps without a parallel in our country, 

 for its uniform and low temperature ; not a day that could excite vegeta- 

 tion, from the time it set in to this. Still, the fruit-buds of the peach, 

 most of the cherries, and pear, are dead, and some of the trees also. 

 And Horticulturists generally are agreed that it is from the effects of 

 the extreme low temperature of the winter. If this is a mistaken view, 

 as your correspondent seems to suppose, will he have the goodness to 

 assign the true cause, and very greatly oblige, I doubt not, thousands of 

 anxii-us enquirers. 



Before I leave the subject, permit me to go back and ask your corres- 

 pondent — when speaking of the young trees received while in New York, 

 and which were exposed to a temperature of 20° below zero, and the 

 other trees, " which were taken up and transported," of which, the usual 

 proportion lived when planted — what are we to understand — that they 

 were thus exposed without protection to the roots, or were they well 



