Frost-Marked Fruits 311 



dropping; pear flowers were open, but not yet fully 

 fertilized. 



Young fruits of apples and pears may sometimes re- 

 cover from a severe freeze and make perfect specimens. 

 It is even insisted by some careful observers that they 

 sometimes recover even if frozen solid shortly after they 



FIG. 119. Frost injuries on young apples. 



they are "set," the fruits failing to develop perfect seeds 

 thereafter.* 



Fruits simply frost-bitten, that is, injured by a 

 deposit of white frost, are very likely to persist, but 

 to show blemishes or deformities even at maturity. 

 A common effect of very late frosts is a distinct russet 

 zone on the fruit. This zone marks the position of the 

 frost on the young fruit. Apples and pears are usually 

 still erect when these frosts occur, and the dew, which, 



*"The freeze of May, 1895, froze the fruit solid. The center of each 

 pear turned black, and yet they persisted in growing. There were 

 eighty barrels. I doubt if there was a seed or core in the whole lot. The 

 quality was the best that I have ever seen." Extract from letter from 

 Benj. F. Hawes, Oakfield, N. Y. 



