EDITOR S TABLE. 



happened -within my observation. At seven o'clock P. M., it was 17° below 0, and on the 

 morning of the seventh, 21° which was the greatest cold in the season at my residence, though 

 on that morning at a few miles distant, it was several degrees colder. 



To say nothing of other cold days and weeks, which ordinarily would have caused alarm for 

 fruit and fruit trees, it may well be supposed that our fears in their behalf were reasonably 

 excited. In fact, we gave up our Pear trees which were so bountifully loaded with delicious 

 fruit last year, as a dead loss, and with misgivings in regard to our young fruit trees, through 

 fear the sudden and severe frosts of December had destroyed the roots, it really made us 

 nervous. 



Spring came on slowly with many fluctuations of temperature, though no very warm days 

 until June. In its developments we found we had been anticipating losses that 

 were not likely to be realized. The wood of the Peach suffered severely, owing perhaps in 

 part to the exhaustion caused by excessive bearing last year, but the healthfulness of the 

 roots, new shoots have been vigorously sent from the main branches, and from present 

 appearances they will be in bearing condition next year. Young peach trees suffered but 

 very little, and are giving a fine luxuriant growth this season. The fruit buds on such were 

 nearly all killed, so we must wait patiently another year before we can feast on peaches of 

 our own growing. 



Our next fears were for our beautiful dwarf pears, especially the setting out of 1854. 

 Now we could not find a single twig or bud of these injured in the slightest degree. They 

 bloomed freely and the fruit set abundantly for young trees, and they are making a growth 

 that would lead us to suppose that winter had only been a night of rest to them. Our expe- 

 rience so far is decidedly in favor of growing dwarf trees for pears, and we believe the 

 great want of success in it, wherever it may exist, is owing in the first place to purchasing poor 

 trees from nurserymen who are willing to palm them off, and in the second place, from the 

 careless manner in Avhich too many set their trees, and in the third place, from a want of 

 proper, not extravagant, culture when they are set. We have also realized the fact that 

 trees when raised by responsible nurserymen in Western New York, will succeed as well on 

 the bleak hillsides and in the deep vallies of Berkshire, as those grown at home, or brought 

 from any locality whatever. 



In the matter of cherries, the bloom was never better, nor the harvest more abundant than 

 in the present season. The two great objections to their culture, the boys and the birds, we 

 are happy to say, promise ere long to be overcome, by setting trees enough to supply all. 

 Several within our knowledge have set fine rows of trees by the wayside as well as in their 

 gardens, which not only furnish beautiful shade, but a bountiful supply of fruit to the insect 

 devouring songsters that build among their branches. If unruly boys happen to light upon 

 them, we hope they will appreciate the value of good fruit on tasting it, so that they will 

 be induced to "go and do likewise" in planting out, and cease in due time, from luxuriating 

 on the labors of their industrious neighbors. Yours truly, W. Bawn. — Piichmond, July 7, 

 1855. 



More about the Big Tree. — The following communication is dated jMogadon, Summit 

 Co., Ohio, July 10, 1855. Editor of the Horticulturist. — I see in the last issue of your work 

 a notice of the " AVellingtonia Gigantea" of California. It is spoken of as a discovery of 

 Mr. William Lobb. Now what entitles a man to the appellation of " Discoverer " I am not 

 prepared to determine. But the trees spoken of are as familiar to many residents of Califor- 

 nia, as any other tree in that State. 



There are many statemonts of Mr. Lobb, not at all in accordance with facts. He says : 

 "It inhabits a solitary district on the elevated slopes of the Siera Nevada, near the head 

 waters of the Stanislau and San Antonia rivers." 



So far as I know from a residence of some time on the western slope of the Sicras, and 



