Notes and Gleanings. 353 



The cherry tree seems to outdo itself, in producing fruit without stint ; its 

 cultivation here has proved it to be a success for profitable orchard culture. We 

 have set out a young orchard this season, mostly of the Early Richmond variety, 

 which is one of the best paying sorts. 



In a few words, this section of the country is particularly and peculiarly adapt- 

 ed to fruit culture ; and those who are sceptical on the subject, and wish to 

 satisfy themselves in regard to this matter, why, just "step around" to Mary- 

 land, where you will be treated with the utmost hospitality, — a truly Southern 

 characteristic, — and, if you see fit to call on us, you will be received with wel- 

 come by us and brother horticulturists. David Z. Evafis, Jr. 



"Cecil Fruit and Truck Farm," Chesapeake City, Md., May 9, 1870. 



"Great Hail Storm in Maryland. — We have been visited to-day with 

 one of the greatest hail-storms that it has been our misfortune to be pelted with 

 for many years ; and the damage done by it is very great, at least with and near 

 us, and I suppose it has visited a large extent of country in the same hurried 

 manner, leaving destruction and blighted hopes in its wake. It commenced at 

 or a little after two o'clock, P. M., lasting for about twenty minutes or half an 

 hour ; and, although of such short duration, an immense amount of hail fell, — 

 most of the stones larger than a pigeon's egg, — the hail being accompanied by 

 a most violent and dashing rain. 



Immediately after the storm we went over our grounds, examining the fruit 

 trees, truck, &c. The first place we visited was the hot-beds, and other beds, 

 etc., and out of many hundreds of panes of glass in the sash, we were able to 

 count the enormous sum of twenty-five unbroken ones. The rain first broke 

 them, and then pelted down with merciless fury on the young plants, vines, etc., 

 under them, destroying almost all, amounting to hundreds : the loss therefore 

 not being very slight. 



We next visited the grape vines, both around the house and in the vineyards, 

 and it is really very discouraging to see the damage done here ; for the weather 

 being so wet for several days made the shoots very brittle, and they were broken 

 off or mangled to an alarming extent. 



The cherries, pears, apples, etc., now took our attention ; and under all of the 

 trees we found large numbers of young fruit or buds, and great quantities of 

 leaves, which the hail had stripped from off the trees with its rude fingers. 



The peaches have been thinned out very materially, and if the storm has been 

 general, as there is no doubt it has been, both the price and quality of the fruit 

 will be improved, owing to the wholesale expeditious thinning process. By care- 

 fully examining the fruit, we find that those that did manage to stick on the tree 

 are almost all badly bruised, which will eventually succeed in reducing the crop 

 of this and almost all other fruits to a fine point, whittled down. 



The truck of different sorts has been badly cut by this unseasonable and 

 much-to-be-regretted storm, which, like a pestilence, carried death and destruc- 

 tion with it, one on each arm. The tomatoes, cabbages, sweet potatoes, etc., 

 have been cut up, as well as down ; and I do not see how such a storm could 

 pass by without inflicting a greater damage than it did ; for the hailstones made 



