1912.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 81 



rapidly as the elm and maple, and its habit of retaining its 

 leaves, which it shares with other oaks, gives it a rugged and 

 picturesque appearance in winter. 



In conclusion we might repeat that the past few years have 

 been very hard on vegetation. The summers have been dry and 

 the falls wet. Vegetation needs water the most during the grow- 

 ing season, and a superabundance in the fall is a menace rather 

 than a benefit, as it has a tendency to develop tender shoots and 

 prevent;^ the ripening of the tissue. When the wood of trees 

 does not ripen properly and is subjected to even ordinary cold, 

 it sun scalds or winter kills, with disastrous results. The ex- 

 ceptionally dry summer and rather wet fall which we have 

 just experienced have furnished ideal conditions for winter 

 injury this coming winter. 



