THE IOWA HOMESTEAD
Des Moines, Polk Co. Iowa
Thursday, February 5, 1863

New Series Vol. II No. 2. Page 11

Destruction of Fruit Trees
Ed. Iowa Homestead.--I have been expecting for sometime to see some allusion in the Homestead to the destruction of fruit trees in Southern Iowa, caused by the hard and sudden freeze in October last. I believe nearly all the fruit trees in this section of country are killed. I think all of mine are at least.

In 1852, I set out 25 trees, and in 1854, I put out 158 more. From these small beginnings I gathered a fine crop of apples last fall, but my apple trees, peach trees and plum trees were all killed by the early freeze in October last. My Sweet Junes are completely dead--dried up. Other varieties have some appearance of life, but on cutting through the bark, I find the inner side, next the wood, black, and decayed. I have spent a great deal of time in my orchard and received the first benefit of much account from it last fall. My loss is not less than $1,000 from this calamity. All the orchards in this region within my knowledge, are in the same fix.--T.S. Buckham, FREMONT COUNTY, Iowa.

Editors Remarks: We have heard similar complaints from the south part of the State, and from Missouri, and the same cause assigned, but nothing of the kind from any other quarter.

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N.B.: H. A. Terry, of Pottawattamie Co., answers this letter on March 5. He says he has heard of no such case in his county, and ends by saying "....if any of your correspondents can tell why the frost was more severe in the Southern tier of Counties, than in the more Northern part of this State, I should like to hear it. To me it is a myster!.--W.F.