EEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. 1G9 



From the middle of Jul}' until September the weather was cooler, 

 with much rain and cloudy weather, the rain falling in very heavy 

 showers, and being in some localities accompanied with hail, which 

 caused considerable damage to fruits, plants, and grass, beating 

 down crops, and washing the soil from the hill-sides. In the 

 months of September and October we had a succession of days of 

 fine weather, and were exempted from severe frosts until nearly the 

 first of November, while the rain was sufficient for all practical 

 purposes. The month of November was milder than usual for the 

 season of the year, enabling every careful person to complete his 

 garden operations in season for the coming winter. In the last 

 half of the month there was a very large rainfall, in one instance 

 six and one-half inches falling in five da3's. The ground is satu- 

 rated with water, and, as some think, is in just the right condition to 

 freeze up for the coming winter. 



It has been found by careful observation that almost everj^ time 

 there is what is called an early start in the spring, arising from a 

 warm March and April, it is followed by a cold May, and perhaps 

 June, killing plants outright b}' frost, and stunting and ruining 

 others by cold da3's and nights. Melons, beans, and other plants 

 have been so injured, and the early blossoms of strawberries, and 

 others of the small fruits, have been killed by frost the present 3'ear. 

 These early springs, which stimulate the cultivator to early planting, 

 and in which his fond hopes are suddenl}' brought to grief by frosts 

 and cold, are not desirable. Almost the only redeeming point 

 about such a season that suggests itself to a practical person is, 

 that one can forward his work at this bus}^ time of the year. 



The killing of strawberry blossoms, and of the small green 

 berries by frost, which has happened the present year, would not 

 be of so much importance (as strawberries, particularly some 

 varieties, set more fruit than thej' can ripen) were it not that when 

 the frost destroys a strawberry blossom, or a green berry, it will 

 certainly be that one which would make the first, best, and largest 

 fruit on the plant. In large fields this would cause a heavy loss 

 in the value of the product. 



The conditions of the weather which have been described are not 

 common when the season opens later. Assuming our propositions 

 concerning them to be true, cultivators can, b}^ judicious planting, 

 avoid some of the losses consequent upon them. They should not 



