No. 7. Blossom Buds Perishing in Winter. — Premiums on Crops. 205 



Our coldest winters, when not interrupted by 

 thaws, have generally, if not always, been 

 succeeded by fruitful seasons. In the winter 

 of 1831-2, the snow drifted around a peach 

 tree in our fruit garden, so that one low limb 

 was entirely buried. This rough weather 

 was succeeded by a thaw soon after New 

 Year's, and the thaw by intense cold. — 

 Peaches were very scarce in the following 

 season. The highest limbs — the very tops-^ 

 to which the reflected heat from the ground 

 could scarcely reach— had a few, while the 

 limb which was buried in the snow, was load- 

 ed down with fruit. The same effect was 

 produced on a limb that rested on the roof of 

 a building, and was covered up in a drift. 

 The warm winds that started the other buds, 

 passed over without touching, and left it tor- 

 pid. On bleak northern aspects, we believe 

 the peach tree is generally productive in this 

 climate ; and we explain the following cases 

 on the same principle: 



For many years we resided in a wide val- 

 ley, bounded on two sides by high hills. In 

 the valley the peach was an uncertain crop; 

 but on the hills it rarely failed. A careful 

 observer, who lived in a more sheltered vol- 

 ley of the same district, assured us that the 

 peach tree with them was unfruitful as often 

 as six years out of seven. In valleys the tem- 

 perature is more variable than on the hills — 

 warmer at one time and colder at another; 

 for it has been ascertained that in severe but 

 calm weather, the cold air settles down in the 

 lowest places. Last winter was milder than 

 usual, and yet we had .»ome shrubs more in- 

 jured than in seasons of intense cold. It ap- 

 pears that in these shrubs tlie sap had started, 

 and the sharp frosts that followed were de- 

 structive to a part of their branches. Tread- 

 ing down the snow so as to accumulate a 

 compact mass round the tree, and then cover- 

 ing it with straw, has been found useful. 

 We have seen an apple-tree retarded in its 

 vegetation for a fortnight in the spring, by 

 piling wood round it; but the weather here 

 is so variable and uncertain, that what was 

 useful in one season, may be useless in an- 

 other. — Gen. Far. 



A Beautiful Discovery. 



The beautiful discovery of Dr. Priestley, 

 that plants absorb carbonic acid gas, and after 

 assimilating the carbon to their own bodies, 

 exhale from the leaves the oxygen with which 

 the carbon was combined, proves to us how 

 necessary to each other's existence plants 

 and animals are, and gives us an impressive 

 lesson of the wisdom which has thus bound 

 the several parts and systems of the universe 

 as it were so intimately, that not a link of the 

 chain can well be dispensed with. 



For the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Premiums on Crops. 



The committee appointed by "the Phila- 

 delphia Society for promoting Agriculture," 

 to examine certain crops designated for pre- 

 miums. Report, 



That they award to Mr. Isaac Newton, of 

 Delaware county, the premium of -1^15 for the 

 best crop of Indian corn on not less than five 

 acres. He having raised 145 bushels of ears 

 per acre on 6^ acres. 



For the best crop of potatoes on not less 

 than three acres, ihey award to Mr. James 

 Gowen, of Mount Airy, the premium of .1}!l5. 

 He having grown on five acres 1000 bushels 

 of large and superior Mercer potatoes. 



For the " best crop of parsneps, not less 

 than one-quarter of an acrp," they award the 

 premium of $10 to Mr. James Gowen. He 

 having raised, on five-eighths of an acre, 4S0 

 bushels, at the rate of 768 bushels per acre. 



For the best crop of carrots, on not less than 

 one-quarter of an acre, they award the premi- 

 um of $10 to Mr. James Gowen. He having 

 grown, on seven-eighths of an acre, 600 bush- 

 els, at the rate of 688 bushels per acre. 



In addition to the heavy crop of corn grown 

 by Mr, Newton, he also raised in the same 

 field amongst his corn, 50 bushels per acre 

 of very fine Mercer potatoes, and a large 

 quantity of pumpkins. Had the ground been 

 entirely devoted to the corn crop, it would no 

 doubt have been more abundant. But taking 

 all together, the yield from the field was very 

 great, and reflected great credit on Mr. New- 

 ton for skill and good management 



The committee take pleasure also in bear- 

 ing testimony to the beautiful appearance of 

 the different crops on the farm of Mr. Gowen 

 at the time of their visit ; the great regula- 

 rity with which they grew, their cleanliness 

 and healthful appearance, were convincing 

 proofs of the great skill and care bestowed on 

 them by the cultivator. 



In conclusion, the committee cannot but 

 express their regret, that there should have 

 been so few competitors in the field engaged 

 in such an honourable and praiseworthy con- 

 test — that of trying who could do the most 

 good for their country. 



Aaron Clement, \ 

 Isaac W. Roberts, ^ 



Philadelphia, Dec. 29, 1841. 



Com. 



Gentlemen, — Agreeably to usage, I beg 

 leave to present a statement of the culture 

 and product of certain root crops grown on 

 my farm at Mount Airy, in the season of 1841. 

 Such of them as come under the class for 

 which premiums were offered by " the Phila- 

 delphia Society for promoting Agriculture," 

 I submit to the society, through you its com- 



