Propagation of the Trees. 



303 



erroneously ascribed, rarely have any influence. If the fruit-buds 

 remain unswollen, they will endure very severe cold. But it often 

 happens that we have a few days of mild or warm weather during 

 winter. This is sufficient to swell them slightly, or to throw mois- 

 ture enough into them to render them tender ; and if the thermometer 

 should then sink several degrees below zero, there is scarcely a chance 

 for their escape. Their condition may be soon ascertained by 

 making a cross-cut with a knife through the fruit-buds. If destroyed, 

 the centre will be dark brown ; if uninjured, they will present the 

 fresh yellow centre of sound buds. The accompanying figures 

 represent the branches and buds of the peach magnified twice in 

 diameter. Fig. 345 shows the two flower-buds, with the usual leaf- 

 bud between, before they have become swollen by warm weather. 

 Fig. 344 represents the appearance of the same after the occurrence 

 of several warm days after mid-winter. Fig. 346 exhibits the dark 

 and dead interior of a flower-bud cut through its centre, after it has 



Fig- 344- 



Fig. 345- 



Fig. 346. 



been killed by the frost. Under ordinary circumstances, the peach 

 crop is destroyed when the thermometer sinks about 12 below 

 zero (Fahr.) ; but when the buds have been much swollen, the crop 

 has sometimes been cut off when only 5 or 6 below ; while in rare 

 instances, unswollen buds under favorable circumstances have 

 passed uninjured through a temperature 20 below zero. 



PROPAGATION OF THE TREES. 



The peach-tree is of remarkably easy and rapid propagation. In 

 rare instances, seedling trees have borne the second year, or sixteen 



