OECHARDS AND FRUITS. 81 



however, manifestly appear that careful and skilful hands had 

 done the work. This was seen in the neat and clean cultiva- 

 tion, in the well-shaped trees, and in lack of dead or diseased 

 limbs or bad, unhealed wounds. 



In gathering the Williams apples, none were picked from the 

 trees ; all were allowed to drop. Larger or fairer fruit is seldom 

 seen. It was duly appreciated, as will appear by reference to 

 the account of sales annexed. 



The question still comes to us. Why has this orchard such 

 harvests, while most others have borne little or no fruit ? Have 

 not other orchards been as well located, and as well cultivated, 

 that have yielded no fruit ? As regards cultivation, we think 

 not ; at least not every year, as this has. 



The winter of 1863 and 1864 was very cold. Most of our 

 apple-trees were injured by it. The two following summers 

 were very dry. Very little new wood was made by our trees. 

 Although we have seen our trees blossom, we have had little or 

 no fruit ; and this, as it seemed, for want of vital force in the 

 trees. If the trees were examined during that period, it was 

 found, by cutting off limbs, that a very small amount of sap- 

 wood (alburnum,) was formed. The sap-wood formed pre- 

 viously appeared yellowish and not in a normal condition. As 

 the sap flows by endosmose, and only, or nearly only, through 

 the sap-wood, we may well imagine extreme cold to so freeze the 

 cells as to destroy or greatly injure the power of endosmose. If, 

 after being so injured, we may also see the importance of giving 

 the tree, by cultivation and a proper supply of moisture, all the 

 assistance to make new sap-wood as soon as possible. The 

 writer has not unfrequently seen young apple and pear trees so 

 injured by the cold of winter, that, although a considerable 

 growth of new wood had been made, the tree would break down 

 by a little bending, and the old sap-wood would be found 

 entirely rotten, proving, as we think, that the functions of the 

 cells had been destroyed by the severe freezing. If this theory 

 is correct, we think we may account for Capt. Pierce's success 

 in cultivation. 



We have awarded to Capt. George Pierce, of Arlington, the 

 society's premium, $12. 



For the Committee, 



John Cummings, Chairman. 

 11* 



