1066 
temperature probably because of the 
greater amount of heat absorbed from 
the sun by southerly slopes and because 
of the different exposures to prevailing 
winds. A slope also gives better air 
drainage than a level. The difference 
between high land and valley, slope and 
plain, is often amply sufficient to account 
for the idiosyncrasies in frost injuries so 
often noted. 
Some fruit growers in the state claim 
to obtain a certain degree of immunity 
from frost through good air drainage 
secured by planting at a sufficient dis- 
tance so that tops do not touch and by 
keeping the heads within bounds by 
pruning. 
Quite as essential as location in doing 
the little that can be done to avert frost 
injury is the selection of varieties. Some 
varieties of each of the several fruits 
blossom later than others and these are 
usually in least danger of frosts. The 
length of time during which different 
varieties are in blossom is worth con- 
sidering, though it varies considerably in 
accordance with the fruit, the variety, 
and, most of all, the weather. 
The average length of the period of 
bloom for the different species of fruits 
is: For apples, about nine days; for 
pears, seven days; for peaches, eight 
days; for plums, seven days; for cher- 
ries, seven days, and for grapes, ten 
days. The time from first blossoms until 
all have dropped may vary greatly, as 
the blossoms of some fruits do not last 
longer than 48 hours in very hot, dry 
weather. Blossoms of tree fruits, after 
opening, do not close night or day, though 
pollination probably takes place during 
the day only. 
Other things being equal, of course it 
would be in the fruit grower’s favor, in 
a locality where late frosts are liable to 
occur, to select late-blooming varieties. 
Such varieties cannot be selected by 
knowing only their time of ripening; for 
some early fall apples blossom late, like 
Williams, and some late winter apples 
blossom early, like King and Wagener. 
That is, there is no corelation between 
the time of blooming and the time of 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
ripening of fruits. Harly varieties do not 
necessarily, though some may, blossom 
earlier than late varieties. It is not pos- 
sible, therefore, by selecting late varieties 
to escape danger from late frosts. 
een 
Circulat 22, New York Experiment Station, 
Geneva, N & 
Fungus 
A thallophytic plant destitute of chlor- 
ophyl, and deriving nourishment wholly 
or almost wholly from organic com- 
pounds, as a mushroom, toadstool, puff 
ball, mold or mildew. 
The fungi reproduce chiefly by sex- 
ual spores. They are divided (1) morpho- 
logically, into three classes: Phycomy- 
cetes, Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes; 
and (2) physiologically as parasites and 
saprophytes. Their chemical composition 
is complex and variable. They contain 
proteids, cellulose, gums, oils, sugars, 
acids, enzymes, resins, alkaloids, and 
various pigments, but no starch. More 
than 40,000 species have been described; 
many of them microscopic. Some are ed- 
ible, others poisonous; the antidote being 
atropin, stimulants or heat. Many have 
no economic interest; others cause dis- 
eases of plants and animals. 
Pathol. 
A soft, spongy, morbid growth of ab- 
normal excrescence. 
Algal fungus (Bot.) 
Any phycomycetous fungus. 
Bracket Fungus, n. 
A fungus of the order Agaricales grow- 
ing on a tree trunk, resembling an in- 
verted bracket, as others of the poly- 
pori. 
Cap Fungus, n. 
A fungus with an expanded part, call- 
ed the pileus, or cap, supported by a stem; 
a mushroom or toadstool. 
Fungi vmperfecti (Bot.) 
Imrerfectly known fungi, or those 
whose true character and relationships 
are unknown; 400 genera are included in 
the three orders, Sphaeropisdales, Melan- 
conciales and Monilales, into which they 
have been divided. 
