Kb MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



There was no very severe frost until October 25lh, and after that, through the 

 rest of the year, the weather was cool and pleasant. The winter was free 

 from any days of excessive cold, thoufjh probably the average amount of cold 

 was fully equal to that of most years, but its freedom from an extreme degree 

 of cold attended with high wind was the favorable feature. 



Although in some places the thermometer was reported to have fallen to 

 2°, yet, taking the whole of the vicinity of Boston, 4° may more, truly be stated 

 as the lowest degree indicated thereby. Light snow for several days in suc- 

 cession fell in January, in the aggregate sufficient to cover the ground to the 

 depth of a foot, and as this soon became consolidated by a succeeding rain, 

 this covering of ice and snow lasted through the winter. One noticeable 

 peculiarity of the winter was the remarkable unifornJty in the range of the 

 mercury, frequently for many days in succession this range would scarcely 

 vary. The months of spring were cool and unusually dry, though in neither 

 case sufficiently so to cause injury, but rather on the whole having a favorable 

 influence upon the fruit crop. Great heat in early spring, to be followed sub- 

 sequently by cold, frequently causes much injury, and from this the last spring 

 was free. The summer was peculiarly genial, free from excessive heat, for 

 the mercury did not rise above 90, and to that only on one day; but marked 

 by a long continuance of clear days and bright sun, with sufficient heat to 

 bririg to maturity and ripen its various crops, and this accompanied with most 

 abundant rains. Over 6 inches of rain fell in June, and more than 7 in July, 

 a very unusual quantity for these months. As the winter, so the summer was 

 peculiarly free from great and sudden transitions from heat or cold to the 

 reverse, but was on the contrary remarkably uniform in temperature. Of the 

 character of the autumn it is unnecessary to speak, for this, according to the 

 view taken, belongs rather to the succeeding than to the past year. It is not 

 perhaps always easy to trace back to causes from effects, but as it is believed 

 that many of the inconveniences and losses to which fruit growers are subject 

 are the results of climate, of too much or too little heat, of too much or too 

 little moisture, or of the sudden and great transitions from one of these condi- 

 tions to its opposite, the particular features of each year are worthy of notice 

 and of record, that possibly from such observations, and by comparing the 

 peculiarities of one year, and the results of that year with those of other years, 

 the cause of injury may be educed, and ingenuity may discover some means 

 to obviate the effiicts of such cause. Of the causes of some effi^cts we are 

 yet in ignorance and probably may always remain so, or if not, great differ- 

 ence of opinion prevails as to what such should be attributed. As for instance, 

 the high color that, on some years or in some particular place, fruit attains, 

 beyond what it does in other years or in other situations. Bartlett Pears, as 

 bright in color as any that was ever seen on a Roi de Wirtemburg, were on 

 the tables at the last Annual Exhibition ; to what cause can their bright red be 

 attributed ? In their replies to this question, cultivators, if they attempted to 



