60 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Feb. 



It is not, however, peach trees alone that suffer from this 

 cause. There is scarcely a natural order of planis in our 

 temperate climate which is not atl'ected by it. In tropical 

 countries, the genus Ims not at pfcsent been detected, un- 

 iess, indeed, a very anomalous production on the leaves of 

 Jacquinia arinillaris be justly referable to it, which we have 

 from Jamaica. Beds of seedling Whitethorn, and it is said 

 Pansies, are often much injured by it. Its effects on I'ea 

 crops are too visible to escape notice, the whole plant being 

 soon clothed with it, as if coaletl with a cinereous wash. 

 Hops, too, are notoriously affected by a similar plague, and 

 •during the last year scarce a lield of wheat was free from 

 the attacks ot Erysiphe graminis, but probably from some 

 favorable turn iti the season did not seem to suffer from it. 

 It is not probable that a sure remedy will ever be found for 

 such an universal pest, to the development of which all 

 seasons seem /avorablc, and which is alike produced in the 

 most sheltered and exposed aspects, and if, as is certain, 

 though many true species exist, one or two forms are per- 

 fectly indifferent as to the plants on which they grow, it 

 would be quite hopeless to attempt a remedy. VVe have 

 exhibited one or two of the principal forms in one figure, 

 from which it will be seen ihat the species are beautiful ] 

 microscopic objects. The whole subject is well worth the 1 

 attention of any one who has leisure to make the necessary I 

 observations. — M. J. B., in London Gardeners^ Journal. 



Buds — their Origin and Office. 



The greater number of perennial plants in cold climates 

 commence the growth of eacti year, from scaly protube- 

 rances called buds, which begin their development duiing 

 the preceding year. Usually tlie buds are quite prominent, 

 and tliey differ so materially, both in size and in shape, 

 lliat an experienced gardener finds but little ditticulty in 

 recognizing almost any tree by its buds alone. It is said 

 tha: the Indian is accustomed to count the scales in the 

 buds of certain trees, in autumn, to determine whether the 

 coming winter is to be mild or otherwise, an unusually 

 large number indicating a severe winter. Scientific men, 

 less contented with their philosophy than the simple na- 

 tive with his, have indulged in various conjectures respect- 

 ing the pariicular point from which buds have their origin. 



Pi^i.vY and .MAt.PSUiHi thought buds sprang from the pith. 

 Some botanists, among whom is Knight, su[)pose the de- 

 scending lluids to be capable of sending out buds wherever 

 the economy of vegetation demands them. Yet, very little 

 is positively known about it, except that they commence 

 their development in the latter part of summer, and usually 

 make their appearance at the extremity of the branches, or 

 axil of the leaves. In the Sycamore, Piatanns Orridf/tta/fs, 

 the buds appear directly under the loot of the leaf stalk, or 

 petiole. In some trees they appear between the branches, 

 and seem to observe but little regularity ; in this case they 

 are called adveiitAtums. 



The cause of tlie appearance of buds while vegetation is 

 yet in its full vigor, is still a matter of'speculation. Some 

 have thought that the rapid flow of sap to the leaves at 

 that time required freer access to the air than the leaves 

 artbrJed, and therefore new ones were commencsd in the 

 form of buds. Cold weather coming on, however, the de- 

 mand for more leaves ceases, and hence their growth for 

 that season is arrested. But the minute young leaves are 

 kept well protected in the bosom of the bud, ready to burst 

 forth and unfold, at the bidding of the tirst warm days of 

 spring-time. A process, quite similar to this, goes on when 

 the young leaf of spring is destroyed by late frosts. As 

 soon as the weather becomes mild again, new buds may 

 be seen to shoot forth and speedily develope themselves 

 into leaves. These only dilier from common buds in not 

 having their growth arrested by a winter's cold. The re- 

 sources for renewing the leaf, whether it decays after hav- 

 ing reached its natural term of existence, or is destroyed 

 by some casualty, appear to exist alike in the internal 

 economy of the vegetable. It is a fact somewhat remarka- 

 ble, that the rudiments, even of the Hower and fruit, begin 

 in many instances to be developed during the autumn 

 months. I have before me, December ^9, the buds of the 

 lilac, Syringa vulgaris, in which are distinctly to be seen, 

 after removing about twelve scaly leaflets, the cluster of 

 flower buds complete in all their parts, even the petals, sta- 

 mens, pistils, and germ, can be easily distinguished. The 

 scales of the bud serve an important office in protecting the 

 young flowers and rudimentary leaves from the severe cold 



of winter, being as they are, lined with a fine down be» 

 tween each scale, and coated entirely with a resinous var- 

 nish, not very readily soluble in water, thus excluding 

 severe frost and moisture. Much more of this varnish 

 is deposited upon the buds of some trees than others. The 

 Horse Chesnut, yEsrulus Uippocasiaiiei'm, and Balm of Gil" 

 ead, Pujiiilus Canduanss, are very liberally supplied, as 

 may be seen by digesting a handful of these buds in warm 

 water for a short time ; the resin will be melted and float 

 upon the surface. 



The fluids of some trees, particularly the peach, and 

 some fine garden shrubs, are much more sensitive to the 

 vivifying influence of the sun than others. Thus it is well 

 known to farmers and horticulturists that a few warm days 

 in the latter pan of winter are apt to prove very destruc- 

 tive to the peach. In this case, the fluids are warmed, 

 tlie circulation commences, and the flowers beginning to 

 grow, burst through their scaly covering. Thus exposed 

 to the influence of colds and moisture, they are liable to be 

 killed by subsequent damp and frosty weather. The flower 

 bud not being renewed, as is the leaf bud, the crop of fruit 

 is a failure. In some small ornamental shrubs, this dis- 

 aster may be prevented by winding them from lop to bot- 

 tom with a straw ro[,e, or by protecting them from air, 

 light and heat — the conditions necessary to vegetation — in 

 some other way. To ensure perfect success, this should 

 be done soon after the leaves have fallen. 



But the peach is too large a tree to receive such treat- 

 ment, and it seems more difficult to protect it against this 

 misfortune. Many experiments have been resorted to, and 

 among the most successful is the practice of placing about 

 the roots, straw, leaves, or whatever may prevent the 

 earth from thawing readily, and thus warming the fluid of 

 the root. Probably a layer of fine manure is preferable 

 to any thing else, as in that case the tree would receive the 

 benefit of it during the next season, a 



This unseasonable development of the buds is somewhat 

 retarded by setting the tree deep at the time of transplant- 

 ing, but wlien this is done the fruit will ripen a few days 

 later, Jind the tree is not apt to attain quite so large a 

 siite. I believe, however, it is usually longer lived, b 



GuKiJON Evans. 



Analytical Laboratory , Yale College, Dec, 1847. 



a We have heai'd of snow being trodden firnnly 

 down in lai-ge quantities around the roots of 

 trees to retard vegetation ; but we consider this, 

 and all other operations of the kind, ba«!ed on 

 false principles. The sap first begins to flow 

 freely in the tops of tree.s, through the influence 

 of atinospheric heat, and if the top of the tree 

 be excited into an expansion of buds by the sur- 

 rounding heat, while the roots are kept nearly 

 dormant, by a low temperature, it must tend to a 

 derangement of the vital functions, that can 

 not fail to be attended with evil results. Nature 

 provides a warmer medium for the roots than the 

 top, and we must be careful how we reverse her 

 decrees. The best method of avoiding the ef- 

 fects of spring frosts, where they are prevalent, 

 is t3 plant peach and other trees most susceptible 

 of injury from them, in north and west expo- 

 sures, on hill-sides, &c. Wall and dwarf trees 

 can be effectually guarded in most cases by 

 screens of matting or cloth. 



b In no case should deep setting be resorted 

 to ; it is complete ruin to all fruit trees. Instead 

 of promoting lotigevity, it does just the reverse, 

 according to all experience. The reason is ob- 

 vious from what has been said about the respec- 

 tive temperature of the air and the &oil around 

 the roots. This will be apparent to our corres- 

 pondent, if he will next give his attention to the 

 Roois, their Origin and Office. 



