OBITUARIES | 117 
_ College Hill, Rochester. Mr. Hoag was a careful and skillful culti- 
_ vator and a successful grower of small fruits. 
Wm. Urie became a member in 1888, and continued to sustain this 
relation steadily till the time of his death in April,1897. He was 
especially interesied in bee culture and a prominent member of that 
kindred organization. 
E. J. Cutts became a member in 1891, and died suddenly at his 
home in Howard Lake, September 22d, 1897,aged 53 years. (For biog- 
raphy see page 412, report 1897.) 
Warren W. Pendergast became a member in 1896, and died at the 
home of his parents in Hutchinson, August 26th, 1897, aged 22 years 
(See page 373, report for 1897.) 
_ M.-Pearce became a member in 1876, and died at his home in 
Chowan, October 6, 1897. (See page 453, report for 1897.) 
‘ Wm. Danforth became a member in 1886, and died in 1897. (For 
obituary, see index, report of 1898.) 
a A WONDERFUL PROVISION OF NATURE. 
H. SWEET. 
a If we examine the fruit trees as they start in spring, we will notice 
__ two classes of buds; one large and round, which will come out blos- 
soms, and the other sharp-pointed and producing only leaves: 
The fruit buds are always on the older branches of the 
trees, while leaf buds appear on all parts and exclusively 
so on the new shoots. These buds are wrapped upin 
cerements alike impervious to wind and weather, and the 
infant leaf and flowers are safely shielded through all in- 
clemencies of winter for the genial influence of spring to 
warm into life and beauty. 
This preservation is very wonderful, for both leaf and 
flower are delicate and the least exposure to frost means 
instant death. But enveloped in these thin folds of na- 
ture’s providing, the tender germ lies snug and safe, 
capable of enduring all the rigors of the severest winter. 
These invulnerable bud shields are quite thick and are 
glued together by a gummy substance that effectually 
shuts out all the rains and cold until the sunshine is 
ready for the little nursling within, and then they open 
ke BUD AND steMgently to let it grow and expand. Inthe budof the horse 
chestnut this arrangement is beautifully seen. As the only object 
of this casing is to protect the dormant bud during the winter, it is 
cast off as soon as the leaf begins its expansion in the spring and 
will be seen scattered profusely beneath the tree. 
A close examination of one of these cast-off scales will show that 
the outside is a flinty shell, but within is a lining of the softest vel- 
vet, the dainty and downy swaddling clothes of the coming genera- 
tion of leaves and flowers. We wonder at these special adaptations 
of God’s handiwork—a feeling which is increased when we learn 
; ‘that buds in warm climates do not have this winter protection.—O, 
oo J. Farmer. 
