32 



GENERAL PEINCIPLEg. 



surer, being more likely to escape frost. These differences 

 are caused by various circumstances. 



1st. The Climate. — rThe period of blossoming of the same 

 species varies much in different localities. Bochester is 

 at least a week earlier than Buffalo, although the distance 

 is less tlian one hundred miles ; and it is nearly two 

 weeks earlier than Toronto, which is still nearer. The 

 large bodies of ice in the lakes, at both Buffalo and Toron- 

 to, have no doubt a considerable effect in retarding the 

 blossoming period. 



2d. The Season and Position. — In the sahie locality, 

 one season is frequently a week earlier than others, and 

 trees on the south side of a wall or building will expand 

 their blossoms several days before the same variety in the 

 open ground only a few rods distant, and ten days to a 

 ' fortnight before those on a north wall. 



3d. The Soil. — On warm and light soils, the roots of 

 trees are excited into activity much sooner than in cold, 

 damp, and heavy soils, and the blossoming period is ear- 

 lier in consequence. 



The Different Cliaracter of Flowers. — Elowers vary in 

 size.^form.^ color ^ and other qualities, even in the same spe- 

 cies. In the peach those distinctions are so obvious, that 

 one of the principal classifications of pomologists is found- 

 ed on them. Thus there are varieties with large^ showy 



flowers (fig. 39), as the serrate 

 early York^ and small (fig. 40) 

 as large early Yorl\ Craw- 

 ford Early etc. The color 

 also presents variations, some 

 being deep.^ others pale rose, 

 and some almost white / two 

 or three varieties of the 

 peach have flowers wholly 

 white, as the mjow^ for instance. In all the other ti'uits, 



Fig. 39. 



Fio. 40. 



IVg. 39. large flower of tbe peach. 

 Pig. 40, small flower of the peach. 



