Pears exhibited during the year 1852. 99 



out-of-door operations of horticulture could be pursued to 

 almost the very close of the year. 



Such were the more striking characteristics of the year that 

 has just closed, — a year in some respects, especially in regard 

 to some species of fruit, most propitious to the horticulturist 

 and husbandman. The crop of apples and pears was most 

 abundant, that of the latter fruit having been rarely equalled 

 in quantity — or, more particularly with respect to its later au- 

 tumn and winter varieties, surpassed in quality. The long 

 summer drought had doubtless an unfavorable influence upon 

 the size, if not the flavor, of summer and early autumn pears : 

 but the latter rains were sufliciently timely to bring those of 

 a later season to great perfection, and permitting, assisted by 

 the aids derived from the science and practical skill of culti- 

 vators, in some instances, the attainment of a size never be- 

 fore equalled. Peaches, always uncertain, were a failure ; 

 cherries and plums did not surpass the average, and were far 

 inferior in quality and quantity to that of the previous year. 



An examination of the fruit buds of the pear, made very 

 early in the season by some skilful and experienced pomolo- 

 gists, excited fears on their part of severe and general injury, 

 as a consequence of the warmth of October, or the great cold 

 of the winter, or perhaps of both combined, to the fruit buds 

 of the year, if not to the trees. As such sinister forebodings 

 were, as the event showed, groundless, no consideration as to 

 the cause of an effect feared only and not produced, is re- 

 quired, further than that it furnishes an opportunity of ven- 

 turing a doubt as to any injury being often caused to fruit 

 buds or trees by the occurrence of a few warm or even hot 

 days towards the close of the year. The trees then having 

 recently begun their state of rest, are probably not as readily 

 excited as when the period of their activity is about to com- 

 mence, and perhaps it is more reasonable to anticipate bene- 

 ficial effects as the result of such heat, by a better ripening 

 of the wood; or preparation of the buds for the performance 

 of their appropriate functions, than to indulge in prognostica- 

 tions of injurious consequences. 



The experience of a single year scarcely warrants a decided 



