DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



51 



passed away. But February, oh! who in New 

 England did not have a cold nose, with all the dis- 

 comforts of a rigorous temperature then? A short 

 month, we will admit, but there was a vast amount 

 of cold weather centered in its brief existence. 

 On two or three mornings the mercury ranged 

 from 17° to 20" below 0. Think of this ye who 

 suppose that a temperature of 14° below will 

 destroy peach buds, and place in contrast our 

 warm December, when it may reasonably be sup- 

 posed they were prepared to fall easy victims to 

 this intense cold. Probably during half the morn- 

 ings in February, the mercury was low as 0, and 

 at no time above freezing point; an unusual cold 

 month, and we still shudder when we remember 

 its severity. 



March and April gave us but very few warm 

 springlike days, yet spring advanced, though with 

 tardy steps as they wore away. The snow melted 

 and the ice dissolved, but more under the influence 

 of chilly south winds than warm sunshine. The 

 ground dried and became fit for the labors of man, 

 for there were but few storms to keep it moist and 

 untillable. 



Thus much for the general features of the sea- 

 son. We next notice its effects. Spring, it is al- 

 ready premised was backward. The blossoming 

 of fruit trees w T as tw r o to three weeks later than 

 usual. The last frost of any amount was May 2. 

 Currants and gooseberries were in blossom the 

 16th; English cherries and plums the 19th. The 

 Peach, whose wood survived the winter admira- 

 bly, the 21st, a good blowth and fruit set finely; 

 — probablv not more than one-fourth of the blos- 

 som buds winter killed. Pears in blossom 25th; 

 apples, 31st; Quinces June 8th. Each of these 

 varieties have blossomed abundantly, and present 

 appearances which indicate full crops. 



The blight may yet come upon them, to be sure ; 

 but let it be remembered that winter, that savage 

 old tyrant at whose door so much mischief is al- 

 ways traced, with all his wanton freaks, has left 

 them unscathed, so he must be allowed to escape 

 guiltless this time. 



Why our fruit trees have received so little inju- 

 ry from a winter of such contrasts, may be made 

 a matter of curious speculation. For ourselves, 

 we do not think that great degrees of cold furnish 

 any effective cause in themselves of the loss of 

 trees or fruit. But on the contrary, sudden and 

 frequent transitions from heat to cold and cold to 

 heat, by which they are frozen through perhaps 

 one day and experiencing a spring temperature the 

 next, are much better calculated to hasten the 

 work of destruction on their energies; and it is 

 under this impression that cultivators are now set- 

 ting the few trees they are attempting to raise, 

 (with more than usual success,) on the north side 

 of their buildings, where the ground is less liable 

 to thaw during the long winter, and where the 

 north winds will salute them roughly ; instead of 

 in the sheltered grounds on the south, where eve- 

 ry warm day and genial breeze wooes them into 



life and activity, and the next change sends a death 

 chill into their vitals. Then, again, in exposed 

 situations, the growth of wood is sooner finished, 

 and, though it may not be so great from year to 

 year, it ripens more thoroughly, and is better pre- 

 pared for the vicissitudes which a northern winter 

 always brings, than when it is overtaken by cold 

 in an unripe or premature state. Our observation 

 has shown us conclusively, that lun;_ r winters of 

 even temperature, though trees have been frozen 

 through and no signs of thaw within them, are far 

 less fatal than those which are usually termed our 

 open winters which are full of changes. 



Our last winter goes to re-establish this theory. 

 In the early part, there was but comparatively lit- 

 tle frost, and winter set in with the ground unfro- 

 zen. A thaw of snow soon followed, and then 

 cold, which froze the ground and held it frozen un- 

 til it thawed in spring. Then, again, we had, 

 comparatively, but few freezing nights and thawy 

 days in spring. Such weather, so injurious to 

 grass and grain, cannot in any wise be harmless 

 to trees, especially those of tender varieties. 

 Hence we conclude that the vigor of our peach 

 trees is not so much owing to the mildness of the 

 winter as to the absence of those fluctuating 

 changes for which our winters are so often eminent. 



Grapes in uncovered and unsheltered positions 

 have stood the winter much better than is usual 

 when mildness and extreme cold follow each other 

 in frequent succession. Few of the most tender 

 exotics which were left uncovered have died down 

 to the roots, and some others have survived. The 

 Isabella and Catawba stood the winter well in a 

 northwest exposure, unprotected. 



Half hardy trees and shrubs have in most in- 

 stances, escaped with less injury than usual. 

 Young Ailanthus trees in this climate, will die 

 down to the first growth of summer. Last fall, 

 we cut off all the later growth, and they survived 

 well to the height we left them, and put out early 

 for the season, and vigorously this spring. 



Of our shrubs, the rose "the queen of flowers" 

 has suffered most. Our best varieties, which w r e 

 had formerly considered tolerably hardy, many 

 died to w T ithin about four inches of the ground. 

 On the whole, the general character of the winter 

 has been favorable to most trees and plants, whe- 

 ther native or exotic, and we have no doubt but 

 by noticing its features and marking its effects on 

 various productions, we can learn much in the 

 matters of giving to trees and shrubs positions of 

 exposure w r hich will tend to render their cultiva- 

 tion more effective of success. William Bacon. 

 Richmond, Mass., June, 1849. 



P. S. I think the meteorological observations 

 now making under the auspices of the Smithsoni- 

 an Institution will do much to aid us in horticul- 

 tural labors, and I propose an article on that sub- 

 ject some convenient time. 



Transmitting grafts by mail. — A.J. Down- 

 ing, Esq., Dear Sir: — Soon after reading in the 



