ABOUT FCUITS, FLOWERS AND FARMIXG. 233 



been in leaf for some days," and seed-sowing had begun. 

 In 1841, seed was sown in open ground, April 8th. In 

 1842, pie-plant broke ground March 8th, and all early seed 

 were in the ground by the 21st. In 1843, seeds were in by 

 April 20. In 1844 ground was in a working state Feb. 

 23d, and seeds put in by March 1. Trees, varjing according 

 to the nature of the season, complete the^rs^ growth, on an 

 average, about the 1st of September. Their second growth 

 continues, usually, into November. In 1844 we had noisette 

 roses pushing out terminal leaves after Christmas ; but this 

 is not a frequent occurrence. Upon an average, the middle 

 of March and the 1st of November, may be taken as the 

 limits of the vegetable year — a period of more than seven 

 months. During this season rains are copious, and fre- 

 quent. Our midsummer droughts are seldom so severe 

 upon vegetation as they seem to be in New England. 

 During the months of June, July and August, the tempe- 

 rature of mid-day seldom falls below 70° Fahren. and 

 ranges between 70° and 100°. 



One other cause of rapid growth is to be mentioned 

 — the nature of our ^vinters. Except when the roots are 

 frozen, they are supposed never to be mactive. During the 

 winter they slowly absorb materials from the soil, and fill 

 the whole system with sap. "When the winters are severe 

 they are usually very long ; and the slowness of its winter 

 action is compensated by the length of time afforded to the 

 plant. In the western States, though the winters are short, 

 yet there is scarcely a week in which trees may not accumu- 

 late their stores. The spring growth will be vigorous in 

 proportion to the amount of true sap collected in the vege- 

 table system. As the whole winter is mild enough for 

 this process to go on, the growth of trees is rampant in 

 spring. Thus, the quality of the soils, and the nature of 

 the seasons — the mildness of winter — the earliness of spring 

 and length of summer — its heat and great atmospheric bril- 

 hancy, all conspire to produce very rapid and strong 



