in the United States. 3 



snow disappearing under a warm sun, leaving the ground 

 with but httle frost at the close. April continued the same, 

 with scarcely a moderate rain during the entire month ; 

 planting commenced early in consequence of the dry and fine 

 weather, and fruit trees were in bloom the latter part of the 

 month, promising an abundant crop. The month of May 

 continued favorable ; one or two rather severe frosts occurred, 

 which injured the blossoms of fruit trees in some low and 

 cool situations ; at the close, several refreshing showers were 

 highly beneficial to advancing vegetation. In June, cool 

 weather set in, and the whole month was accompanied with 

 cloudy, misty, and showery days, without, however, any . 

 great quantity of rain ; this was highly favorable to grass 

 crops, which had begun to suffer. July continued nearly 

 the same with easterly winds. In August, hot weather 

 set in, the thermometer attaining 100 degrees in the shade ; 

 and, but for cloudy and lowery days, vegetation would have 

 suffered severely. September continued favorable, though 

 still without rain. October was mild with no very severe frost 

 until the Sth or 10th. November was quite different from the 

 corresponding month in 1845, when 11 inches of rain fell : It 

 continued mild till the 25th, when a light snow fell; this was 

 succeeded by rain, but not sufficient to keep the ground open. 

 Early in December more snow fell, and now (loth) covers 

 the ground about 4 inches, with but an inch or two of frost 

 in the earth beneath. 



The season has been on the whole favorable. Apples were 

 smaller than usual, owing to the drought, but the aggregate 

 crop was heavy. Pears were not near so numerous, large, or 

 handsome as last year ; in some locations, the blossoms were 

 injured by the early frosts. Peaches were never more abund- 

 ant in the Middle and Western States, and there was a fine 

 crop in New England. Plums were as plentiful as usual. 

 The potato crop was but little affected by the rot in com- 

 parison with the season of 1845. 



Horticulture. 



Under this head, we may refer to the strawberry question, 

 as one of importance, and which at last has been satisfactorily 

 settled. Four years has the subject been agitated, and during 



