82 



GENERAL PKINCIPLES. 



surer, being more likely to escape frost. These differences 

 are caused by various circumstances. 



1st. The Climate. — ^The period of blossoming of the same 

 species varies much in different localities. Rochester is 

 at least a week earlier than Buffalo, although the distance 

 is less than one hundred miles ; and it is nearly two 

 weeks earlier than Toronto, which is still nearer. The 

 large bodies of ice in the lakes, at both Buffalo and Toron- 

 to, have no doubt a considerable effect in retarding the 

 blossoming period. 



2d. Tlie Season and Position. — In the same locality, 

 one season is frequently a week earlier than others, and 

 trees on the south side of a wall or building will expand 

 their blossoms several days before the same variety in the 

 open ground only a few rods distant, and ten days to a 

 fortnight before those on a north wall. 



3d. TJie Soil. — On warm and light soils, the roots of 

 trees are excited into activity much sooner than in cold, 

 damp, and heavy soils, and the blossoming period is ear- 

 lier in consequence. 



The Different Character of Flowers. — Flowers vary in 

 sise.^ form.^ color., and other qualities, even in the same spe- 

 cies. In the peach those distinctions are so obvious, that 

 one of the principal classifications of pomologists is found- 

 ed on them. Thus there are varieties with large., showy 

 flowers (fig. 39), as the serrate 

 early Yorl:., and small (fig. 40) 

 as large early York, Craw- 

 ford Early., etc. The color 

 also presents variations, some 

 being deejj., others jpale rose, 

 and some cdmost white / two 

 or three varieties of the 

 peach have flowers wholly 

 white, as the snow., for instance. In all the other fruits, 



Fig. 39, large flower of the peach. 

 Pig. 40, small flower of the peach. 



