ABOUT FRUITS, FLOWERS AND FARMING. 297 



that severe frosts and freezings overtake the tree while yet 

 in an excitable state, pushing new wood, and with a top 

 quite unripened for severe frosty handling. 



The year 1845 furnished a fine type of western summers. 

 The spring came in very properly, and at so late a period 

 that the usual frosts, after the expansion of leaves, were 

 :iv <ided. The summer opened warmly and continued with 

 almost unvarying heat throughout. At the same time there 

 were frequent and copious rains. 



By this statement the average temperature of June was 

 71, and the rain 6 1 inches; of July, average* noon heat 

 80, rain 3 inches ; of August, average noon heat 80, rain 

 5J inches. Nights were exceedingly warm. The day 

 repeatedly opened and closed at 80. Our thermometer on 

 the north of our house, in a shady yard, stood for eight and 

 ten days together between 94 and 100, twice attaining 

 the latter height. 



Under such stimulus our pear, apple and plum-trees, made 

 their first growth by the first of July. They soon started 

 into a second growth, which wound up during the last of 

 August and the first of September, plum-trees entirely 

 shedding their leaves and standing as bare as in Jan- 

 uary. 



Let orchards be examined when frosts begin to occur, 

 and every side-shoot^ sucker or water-sprout, cut cleanly 

 out. These succulent, raw sprouts are the breeding-spots 

 of disease. Cold-blight invariably manifests itself in them 

 in the most positive form. 



Garden trees, choice pears, and stone-fruits, should, in 

 addition to this operation, if still in growth at the last of 

 September, receive a fall pruning. From the first to the mid- 

 dle of October, according to the season, cut off two-thirds 

 of the new growth, or back to strong, ripe wood. It is well 

 known that the newest buds, near the extremity of young 

 wood, are the most sensitive and apt to break and grow, 

 whereas the buds near the base of a branch are dormant 



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