Progress of Horticulture for 1844. 3 



ble quantities of snow fell which covered the ground until 

 spring ; in consequence of such severe weather, many trees 

 were killed in various parts of New England, and in some 

 instances trees of large size ; many sorts of shrubs, particu- 

 larly tree paeonies were much damaged. Isabella and Cataw- 

 ba grapes, which are rarely injured, were in some localities 

 killed nearly to the ground. In April the weather was re- 

 markably fine, and continued so throughout May, with fre- 

 quent light and genial showers, which gave a rapid start to 

 vegetation. June continued fine, but without rain, and be- 

 fore the close of the month, crops, on many light soils, were 

 almost parched up : the potato crop suffered very much : 

 grass, in many places was scarcely worth cutting ; and garden 

 vegetables were much injured by the drought. Dry weather 

 continued until the latter part of July, when refreshing 

 showers gave everything new life and vigor. With a suc- 

 cession of timely rains in August vegetation regained much 

 of its strength. During September, dry weather again set in, 

 but, from the advanced period of the season without material 

 injury to the crops. A severe frost as early as the 28th of the 

 month, destroyed the dahlias and all tender plants. October, 

 was cool, accompanied with heavy rains ; November con- 

 tinued mild with but little frost until the latter part of the 

 month ; December, up to the present time (the 14th), has been 

 mild and pleasant, with but one or two light storms of snow. 

 The season has been a most remarkable one for fruit : the 

 crop of Apples was never more abundant, or of better quality : 

 pears have also been very plentiful and fine : the crop of 

 plums was so large that they were almost a drug in the mar- 

 ket. In New England the peach ciop was small, but in New 

 Jersey most abundant and excellent. 



HoRTICULTURli. 



A variety of interesting papers will be found in our tenth 

 volume on the principal subjects which are now attracting 

 attention. The discussion relative to the sexual character 

 of the strawberry has been continued, and several writers 

 have recorded their opinions on the subject ; but no satisfac- 

 tory conclusions have yet been arrived at. Mr. Longworth 



