86 The Seasons of 1865 and 1866. 



THE SEASONS OF 1865 AND 1866. 



The horticulturists of Massachusetts have not only a changeable climate 

 to contend with, but, in addition, hordes of insects of various species, which 

 swarm in immense and increasing numbers every year, and threaten to 

 blast the hopes and labors of the cultivator. 



It will be remembered that the years of 1864 and '65 were remarkable 

 for long-prevailing droughts, especially in the summer and autumn of 1865. 

 The springs had not been so low before in the memory of the oldest per- 

 son ; and, in many places, water was with difficulty obtained for family use. 

 In some sections,, young forest and ornamental shade trees actually died 

 for want of moisture ; and in many places the ground was thoroughly dry to 

 the depth of four or five feet, which had the effect of preventing the circula- 

 tion of sap, and so weakening the trees, that the fruit and flower buds were 

 imperfectly formed, or not formed at all, laying the foundation for the failure 

 of many fruits and flowers during the past season. 



It is well known that the strawberry-crop in this vicinit)' was very de- 

 ficient ; in some localities, almost a total failure. It was so in my own lim- 

 ited plantation ; my beds not producing one box, where, on the same extent 

 of ground in previous years, I had obtained twenty. My vines did not 

 produce any runners in August, 1865, suffering severely from the drought ; 

 and this was generally the case in the experience of many others of my 

 acquaintance. AVith a slight covering, they did not winter very well, and 

 looked poorly in May, and were in bloom the 14th of that month. On 

 the morning of the 15th, we had a hard frost, the thermometer falling to 

 29° : that probably completed the destruction which the drought had com- 

 menced. All varieties shared the same fate, and the same disappointment 

 was experienced by many others which I suffered myself. Consequently, 

 good strawberries, fresh from the vines, were scarce and high; and no others 

 are fit to eat. Strawberries transported from New York, and other places 

 south, lose their exquisite flavor, and must be unwholesome, as they are un- 

 palatable to the consumer, in this their decaying state. 



I need not say much about peaches ; for nobody in these days expects to 

 get any, however luxuriously the trees may look in autumn. I believe this 



