400 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
Quiz Column 
EFFECTS OF EARLY AND LATE FROSTS 
Editor National Nurseryman, 
Sir: 
Will you kindly inform me what effects early and late 
frosts have on apple, pear, cherry, peach and plum trees 
in the nursery. Please explain futher the use of nitrate of 
soda in stimulating growth of weak trees. 
A. H. A. 
ANSWER 
The effects of early autumn frosts and late spring frosts 
on nursery stock are illustrated in very different ways. 
The condition of the trees at these two seasons is very 
unlike. In spring the beginnings of growth are commenc¬ 
ing, the young growth, be it leaf or shoot, is very tender, 
and consequently susceptible to injury by frost. In the 
autumn the tree is in a different condition altogether, in 
that the processes of growth have ceased and the energies of 
the plant are employed in storing the cells with food 
materials for the beginning of work the following season. 
Ordinary frosts, that is to say, those in which the 
temperature falls only a few degrees below freezing, in 
spring will result in the destruction of the tender foliage. 
This results of course in a serious check to the groAvth of the 
tree and injures its vitality and general vigor, but with good 
cultivation and plenty of plant food, trees so effected will, if 
the remainder of the season is favorable, recover and make 
a fair growth. 
Sharp frosts under normal conditions in the autumn 
should do no harm. They simply hasten the process of 
ripening and cause an early fall of the leaf. On the other 
hand, under abnormal conditions we have seen serious 
injury follow an excessively hard frost in November. Let 
us suppose that the season has been dry, that the trees have 
ripened up fairly well and have lost their normal amount of 
moisture. If following this there should be a heavy rain¬ 
fall soaking the ground and the wood of the trees, and this 
be then succeeded by a stiff freeze, it is quite possible that a 
considerable amount of bark bursting would result. We 
have seen this occur in nursery regions quite occasionally 
but it is an unusual condition and of course one that can 
hardly be avoided. Often the injury in a case of this sort 
is most severe at the base of the tree just at the surface of 
the ground. If the water lies around the stem of the tree 
and this is converted into ice it may result in mechanical 
injury to the stems which is sometimes very destructive. 
This form of trouble may be avoided to some extent by 
banking the trees in the autumn so that the water will be 
turned away instead of being allowed to collect in basins 
along the line of the row. 
We trust that this will answer your question. The other 
part of your question, that referring to the use of nitrate of 
soda in stimulating growth of weak trees, will be found in 
the May issue of the National Nurseryman for 1909. 
Editor. 
By a young man of education and executive ability, 
a position with progressive nursery firm. Has news¬ 
paper and advertising experience with three years of 
field experience in special line of nursery work. 
i\ddress, PRACTICAL, 
Care National Nurseryman. 
E. T. DICKINSON, 
Chatenay Seine, France. 
Grower and Exporter of 
French Nursery Stocks, Dutch Bulbs, 
Gladioli, Etc. Fruit Tree Stocks. 
All grown specially for the American trade. 
PEAR AND CRAB APPLE SEED, 
The most complete assortment of Ornamental Stocks, 
Trees and Shrubs. 
Geo. E. Dickinson, I Broadway, N. Y. 
Surplus Stock, Spring 1909 
50,000 PEACH TREES, i yr. from bud. 
10,000 APPLE, 1 yr. from bud. 
100,000,000 STRAWBERRY PLANTS in six leading sorts. 
MYER No. 1, AROMA, STEVEN’S CHAMPION. 
Superior. Gandy. 
A general assortment of other stock. 
D. S. MYER & SON, Bridgeville, Del. 
PEACH SEED 
We now have in stock VIRGINIA NATURAL PEACH SEED, 
crop 1908, can fill any size order. 
VIRGINIA NATURAL PEACH SEED CO., 
4th Ave. & Clinton St., BALTIMORE, MD 
SHERMAN NURSERY COMPANY 
CHARLES CITY. IOWA. 
Larie - HARDY STOCK 
In the 
Northwest 
Over 20,000,000 Evergreens in stock, 1,000,000 Grape, 5,000,000 
Apple, and 100,000 Plum are counted among our assortment this 
year. We are also extensive growers of a general line of Hardy 
Nursery Stock. Agents Wanted 
FARM USES 
of CARBOLINEUM 
explained in 
BULLETIN 26 
are completely 
covering Kinds and Habits of Lice—The care of Silos, Preservative 
treatment of Shingles and Fence Posts, and the care of Fruit and 
Shade Trees. Mailed free on request. 
ENDORSED BY U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
CARBOLINEUM WOOD PRESERVING CO., 
189 Franklin Street, New York, N. Y. 
