-4- 



"Observation - May 9, 1930, and June 2, 1812 are the two extremes. Dif- 

 ference, 24 days; the mean of v;hich is May 21. The mean annual blooming for 

 the whole fifty-tv/o years, is exactly May 21. The meaji of the first 26 years, 

 is May 22, nearly; and of the last 26 years, is May 20. The observations 

 were taken when the blossoms had fully expanded, generally, (except some late 

 kinds, as the russets, etc.) and their petals had begun to fall to the ground} 

 (that is, as many petals had fallen as what remained to expand.) 



"My father, Isaac Stearns, Sen., who was a farmer of Mansfield, took the 

 old Farmer's Almanac, published by Robert B. Thomas, from its commencement, 

 in 1791, till his death, (my father's), in 1837, and carefully noted in the 

 margin of the Almanacs, the time of the blossoming of apple and other trees, 

 with other events, which are to this day preserved in the family, making 

 four good-sized volumes. We have been careful to continue the practice, so 

 that you may depend upon the accuracy of the memoranda. 



Most respectfully yours, 

 Mansfield, June 4, 1849 Isaac Stearns '^ 



The editor of the magazine, S. 17. Cole, commenting on the article, said 

 many persons have observed this is the latest season (i.e. 1849) they ever 

 knev/. By the above record it appears that several seasons have been more 

 backward, and one was four days later. 



In Illinois the almanac is consulted to determine the better time to 

 plant, best fishing days, the phase of the moon and is a place to set down 

 the date when the old grey mare will foal. Massachusetts has gone us one 

 better and made, out of fifty- two almanacs, a four volume set, which we 

 might call "Apple Blossom Time in Massachusetts." 



REMOVING TREES AITD BRUSH FOR FROST PRE VEN TION 



Most fruit growers are familiar with the term "air drainage" and its 

 relation to the occurrence of frost in the orchard; an orchard with good air 

 drainage is relatively free from frost while an orchard with poor or inadequate 

 drainage is the one to get frozen out. 



Frequently orchards which are located on comparatively high elevations 

 appear to have good air drainage but are damaged by spring frosts. This is 

 sometimes due to a thick stand of trees or brush bordering the orchard on the 

 lower side of the slope which acts as a barrier to the natural flow of cold air 

 and causes it to back up and accumulate in the orchard. 



The removal of trees and brush bordering the orciiard will often aid 

 in lessening frost injury by allov/ing the cold, heavy air to settle out to 

 lower levels, provided there is a sufficiently large area of low lying ground 

 below the orchard. 



— Y(. D. Vfeeks 



