C 183 ] 



Some Observations on Fruit Trees, By Edxvard Garri- 

 gues. Of Kingsess. 



Read March 13th, 1810. 



On the 6th day of the 5th month, 1803, the frost was 

 so severe as to destroy the tender shoots of the apple 

 trees, which at that time had extended about four inches, 

 and the fruit as large as a sm.all hickory nut ; this frost 

 being succeeded on the following night by a heavy fall 

 of snow, so as to break the branches of many tender or 

 soft kinds of wood, — left but a slender hope of fruit for 

 the succeeding autumn ; but, contrary to my expec- 

 tation, one of my orchards produced at the time of ga- 

 thering, 60 barrels of good pippins, and about 1000 

 gallons of best cider, while the other orchard which is 

 nearly adjoining at the corners, did not produce one 

 peck of apples either of summer or winter fruit, al- 

 though of the same kinds of fruit as the first mentioned 

 orchard. This excited some attention to the circum- 

 stance attending the cold, which came from the north- 

 east, and their being some shelter from that wind af- 

 forded the orchard which produced fruit ; induced the 

 belief, that when the east wind prevails, and the or- 

 chards are exposed to its biting effects while in bloom 

 or the fruit but small, more danger attends the expected 

 crop, than from colder weather from other quarters. I 

 would therefore prefer planting some kind of shelter, 

 to orchards, which may be exposed to the east winds, 

 as an expedient to counteract, its baneful influence. 



Would it not be found expedient to take off a large 

 part of the superfluous wood, that often overloads our 



