Lewisburg Chronicle

The Winter,
AND ITS EFFECTS ON VEGETATION.

The winter through which we have just passed, will not soon be forgotten. It seems to have been altogether remarkable in almost every part of the country. In many of the Southern and Western States, there has been a severe drought in the depth of winter—rivers, streams, and springs so low that water for ordinary purposes could scarcely be had; and we have heard of cattle dying for want of it. Until mid-winter, the Western rivers were too low for navigation. Then came the wonderful snow storms of February, covering up entire trains of railroad cars on the Western prairies, and blocking up railway travel in nearly all parts of the country. Close upon this came the intense cold of the 6th and 7th of February, when the mercury sunk 26 below zero in the usually mild Lake counties of Western New York, where it is reckoned very cold, and is seldom experienced. In New England we hear of earthquakes in various localities. The atmosphere of our continent is surely in a most extraordinary state.

We have strong fears that the fruit crop of 1855 will be very small. Here, our Peaches are gone; not only are the fruit-buds killed, but we fear the trees themselves are frozen to death down to the very roots. In cutting through the bark, we find the wood quite discolored, and to all appearance completely disorganized. We had, for a time, some hopes that the trees were safe, because the cold slackened off gradually and without sunshine; but our hopes are small, now.

We have not yet dared to make a close examination to see how serious the injuries are, but we see evidences of suffering on all sides. A beautiful young Cedar of Lebanon on the lawn, that has stood many years unprotected, is as brown, or rather as red, as dead evergreens usually are in midsummer. We fear we shall have a long catalogue of misfortunes to chronicle by and by.—Horticulturist (Rochester.)