prccn ftbout them, even to the young shoots. If I recollect riglitly, this was on 

 llidlev Creek, and, I presume, the butter, if not the milk itself, finds its way 

 from that region to the Philadelphia market, and, if the statement, as " it is said," 

 by Darby, be correct, with what a serious result to our citizens ! for, assuredly, if 

 the flesh can be impregnated so easily, how much more so butter and milk 1 



But I again repeat, I do not believe it to be poisonous. I have given it a 

 cliance on my own life, which it declined to accept, and as I do not lay claim to the 

 constitution of Mithridatcs, I conclude it deemed itself unequal to the task. 



I should be glad to learn that the experience of others differs from ray own ; 

 for, although I dislike to see a flower I so thoroughly admire connected with such 

 unpleasant associations, I shall be better satisfied if I feel assured that it deserves it. 



[It was the opinion of Nuttall, and many others, that the popular notion on 

 this subject was decidedly erroneous, and that the "leathery" leaves, being indi- 

 gestible, was the cause of the injury, and even, occasionally, of the death of ani- 

 mals that had partaken of the laurel. A popular error of this kind, if it be one, 

 should be investigated and exterminated as soon as possible. — Ed.J 



EFFECTS OF COLD WEATHER. 



BY BENJAMIN IIODGE, BUFFALO, NEW YORK. 



It is an old maxim, and a true one, too, that " we are never too old to learn." 

 This remark is, perhaps, quite as applicable to the horticulturist and pomologist 

 as that of any other class of men. The severity of the winter of 1854-5, in the 

 State of New York, and more particularly in the western part of the State, was a 

 general theme of remark ; and, in the opinion of many, has hardly been equalled 

 during the past quarter of a century. On the morning of the 6th or 7th of Feb- 

 ruary, 1855, the thermometer sank to 20° and 22° below zero. It was soon ascer- 

 tained that the fruit-buds of the peach were all destroyed ; and, soon after, the 

 discovery was also made, that the trees, too, were all killed. On cutting off the 

 branches of the trees, it was found that the wood was discolored, and quite black ; 

 and that all above the snow line, to all human appearance, was quite dead. 

 Although the bark seemed to be alive, yet it was supposed that, on the first 

 opening of spring, or soon after, the trees must wither and die. 



Peach growing was now at a discount ; and many, without further delay, cut 

 down their trees, and cleared the ground of the rubbish. One gentleman, as I 

 am very credibly informed, cut down his whole orchard of some two thousand 

 trees, which, the autumn previous, had produced a bountiful crop. A neighbor of 

 the writer cut down many beautiful trees which were then just in their prime. 

 But everybody was disappointed. The spring and early summer opened most 

 propitiously, with genial showers, and fine growing weather. The trees ^oon put 

 on their summer dress, just as fresh and as fine as ever. New, healthy leaves and 

 ■j^ bark very soon completely covered up and encased the dead wood. The trees 

 a fine growth, and set full of fruit-buds ; and, to a casual observer, appeared 



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