CULTURE OF TENDER FRUITS IN COLD CLIMATES. 



463 



Judge Buel: "I do not believe it is pro- 

 duced by the sun ; because its attacks are 

 indiscriminate, where the sun's rays are 

 obstructed by foliage as well as where ex- 



posed to its rays ; on the north as well as 

 the south, on horizontal as well as perpen- 

 dicular shoots ; and the under as well as 

 upper side."* 



Culture of Tender Fruits in Cold Climates. 



BY J. J. THOMAS, MACEDON, N. Y. 



It is familiar to horticulturists, that warm 

 low valleys, are more subject to night frosts 

 than more elevated localities. Objects at 

 the surface of the earth become chilled by 

 the radiation of heat to the clear sky above, 

 and cool by contact the surrounding air, — 

 which thus becoming heai'ier, rolls down 

 the sides of declivities, and settles like the 

 waters of a lake in the lowest troughs. 

 This effect is farther increased by the still- 

 ness which prevails in those sheltered places, 

 favoring the more rapid cooling, by radia- 

 tion, of the exposed surfaces ; while on hills 

 the equilibrium is partially restored by the 

 currents of wind. Independently of these 

 causes, vegetation is more likely to suffer in 

 such places from the succulent or unripened 

 growth, incident to the warmer position, and 

 to the richer soil wh ich more usually accumu- 

 lates at the bottoms of valleys. The mucky 

 soil also radiates heat more rapidly from its 

 surface. The warmth in valleys, during the 

 milder weather of winter, often swells fruit- 

 buds, and severe cold following, destroys 

 them. Higher and more bleak localities 

 are not exposed to these variations, but are 

 more uniformly cold ; hence, for these five 

 different reasons, such places are usually 

 much the best for raising tender fruits. 



These facts are familiar to many, but still 

 are not so generally appreciated nor applied 

 in practice, as they might be in many in- 

 stances to very great advantage, in selecting 

 grounds for orchards and gardens. Very 



erroneous conclusions even, have been 

 adopted in consequence ; and large parts of 

 the Northern States are destitute of the 

 finest fruits, from mistaken notions as to 

 the practicability of their culture, or of their 

 endurance of the climate. 



Instances, showing in a strong light, the 

 principles already alluded to, may be of use 

 to those who have given little attention to 

 the subject. 



The existence of colder air in valleys, on 

 still, clear nights, has been obvious to every 

 observing person riding rapidly over a roljino- 

 or broken face of country. The thermome- 

 ter has often shown a difference of many 

 degrees between a creek bottom and a 

 neighboring hill not fifty feet high. A very 

 striking proof of this tendency was exhibited, 

 at the time of a severe night frost, early in 

 summer. The young leaves of the hickory 

 had but partially expanded, and the fresh 

 shoots, a few inches long, were succulent 

 and tender. A few trees stood in a holloAv 

 about twenty feet deep, and after the frost 

 all the leaves and fresh branches on the 

 lower parts of the trees were black and 

 dead, while all above the surface of this 

 lake of cold air, were green and uninjured. 



Many years ago, the writer attempted the 

 cultivation of young peach trees, on a rich 

 soil near the bottom of a valley. But every 

 winter the newly set buds were destroyed 



• To be conciuaea next montii. 



