92 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Feb. 



^' The following remarks by the Hon. R. B. 

 Hubbard, which are copied from the Ploio, the 

 Loom and the Anvil, are interesting inasmuch as 

 they show the doctrine heretofore entertained in 

 respect to the degree of intense cold fatal to the 

 peach bud is erroneous. We have heard other New 

 England authority stating that the peach bud out- 

 lived last winter a degree of cold equal to 2G deg. 

 below zero. We are however by no means inclined 

 to believe in the opinion set forth in this article, 

 that budding (jf itself enervates the health and vig- 

 or of the peach tree. A well-grown specimen of 

 the peach raised by budding is quite as hardy, in 

 our opinion, as a tree of the same sort from a pit. 

 It is next to impossible that it should be otherwise. 

 Some varieties are hardier than others, but the dif- 

 ference in vigor proceeds from causes other than 

 the mode of propagatit)n. 



PEACH TRUES. 



For a few years past we have been encouraged 

 in the belief that we could raise peaches in Massa- 

 chusetts — that we should not be always depend- 

 ent upon New Jersey and Delaware for this most 

 delicious of fruits. But the result of the last win- 

 ter has terribly shaken our faith.. I have never 

 known such destruction among fruit trees of any 

 kind. I have been in each of the New England 

 States, and Bnd that the remark is true of all. 



A large portion of the trees, probably one-third, 

 were killed outright. Of the remaining portion, 

 a moiety came out unscathed, while much the lar- 

 ger part show signs of sickly life, here a bud and 

 there a limb ; of) fruit there will of course be but 

 very little. Many gardeners are discouraged, and 

 say it is of no use trying to raise peaches in New 

 England. Many years will elapse before we shall be 

 permitted to witness such a crop of peaches as 

 last autumn. 



But I took my pen to submit some queries which 

 have arisen in my own mind touching the culture 

 of the peach. 



It has been asserted })y writers of distinction, 

 and generally believed, that the peach bud would 

 not endure a greater degree of cold than 12 de 

 below zero. The correctness of this is disproved 

 by last w'inter's experience. In this place, the 

 mercury frequently sank below 12 deg., and three 

 times, as low as 20 deg. Yet, there are some 

 peaches this season. I have seen three trees, 

 standing together on the sunny side of a dwell- 

 ing house, which appear as healthy as ever, and 

 are burdened with fruit ; while nineteen-twenti- 

 eths of the trees in town had not a blossom, and 

 at least three-fifths were killed. In some places, 

 trees standing on the north side of buildings were 

 uninjured, while those on the south side were 

 killed. In tlie hilly towns of vVorcester county, 

 also in York county, Maine, the trees have suf- 

 fered comparatively little ; wliile in the valleys of 

 the Connecticut and Merrimac most of the trees 

 are dead. I notice also that in the same locality 

 the trees which have survived are those which 

 have grown slowly, while those which have made 

 rapid growth, have verified the adage, "soonest 

 matured, soonest decay." Another fact I notice ; 

 the trees which survived are mostly natural fruit. 

 In my garden were twelve trees of budded fruit ; 

 every one died. In the garden of a neighbor near 

 by, with similar soil, were about twenty trees of 

 natural growth, all of which are alive and doing 

 well. 



From these facts I draw the following inferen- 

 ces : the surest way of raising the peach is the 

 natural way — from the stone. Like produces like 

 in the peach almost as surely as in corn. The 

 natural tree is hardy, even in cold New England, 

 after bearing twenty years. The artificial is al- 

 ways delicate — seems an exotic — a hot house plant, 

 whose life is as a vapor. The growth of the tree 

 should never be forced. If the soil is rich, growth 

 should be retarded, by placing underneath the 

 tree gravel and sterile earth. 



The observance of these two 'simple rules, I be- 

 lieve will insure us good peaches, and in abun- 

 dance, even in Massachusetts. 



AVhat say you, Messrs. Editors, to this radical- 

 ism ? R. B. HUBB.^RD. 



Sunderland, Mass. 



U. S. AGRIOUIiTURAL SOCIETY. 



The Recording Secretary, Robert C. Walker, 

 Esq., has issued the following notice, which we 

 take pleasure in placing before the public. 



"The first Annual Meeting of the United States 

 Agricultural Society will be held in the Smithsou 

 nian Institute, Washington City, on Wednesday, 

 the 2d day of February next, at 10 o'clock, A. M.; 

 the OiBcers of the Society for the ensuing year are 

 then to be elected. The importance of strength- 

 ening in its infancy an Institution which has for its 

 object the promotion of our National Agriculture, 

 it is hoped will secure the attendance of a large 

 number of members. ' ' 



It is earnestly hoped that all the officers of our 

 County Societies will become members of the Na- 

 tional Association, by sending their names and the 

 initiation fee of $2 by the delegates from their re- 

 spective Societies. This National Association needs 

 now, especially, the countenance and support of 

 those who feel the importance of a more enlight- 

 ened system of agriculture throughout the coun- 

 try. 



We will not doubt but that the government will ' 

 before long lend its aid to the noble work begun ; 

 not by granting any special privileges to the far- 

 mer — that we do not ask — but by taking such a sure 

 and liberal course as shall promote its own inter- 

 ests and strengthen its own hands. But as the 

 people are always in advance of the government, 

 it is necessary for the present to sustain the great 

 national movement by individual effort. 



Vocal MAcniNERT of Birds. — It is difficult to ac- 

 count for so small a creature as a bird ujaking a 

 tone as loud as some animals a thousand times in 

 size; but a recent discovery has shown that, in 

 birds, the lungs have seveml openings, communi- 

 cating with Corresponding air bags or cells which 

 fill the whole cavity of the body from the neck 

 downwards, and into which the air passes and 

 repasses, in the progress of breathing. This is not 

 all ; the bones are hollow, from which air pipes are 

 conveyed to the most solid parts of the body, even 

 into the quills and feathers. The air being rare- 

 fied by the heat of their bodies, adds levity. By 



