454 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



"What are termed wet days are when the rain was of four hours' con- 

 tmuance or longer, and showery when it did not last four hours at 

 one time. 



In the previous year, 1864, no rain fell during the months of Jan- 

 uary, February, and March, and there was only one wet day in April 

 in that year. 18G6 was also a remarkably dry year. 1867 was more 

 moist; but in 1868 more rain fell than in all the previous six years 

 combined; and the present season, 1869, as far as gone, the wet and 

 showery days nearly double those of 1865. Compared with other dis- 

 tricts in New Zealand, this is the driest of any — nearly double the 

 quantity of rain falls at Dunedin, 90 miles south, and about one-third 

 more at Christchurch, some 150 miles north, of this place. Snow never 

 lies twenty-four hours at one time, although in the interior of the 

 district heavy falls often take place, lying from a month to six weeks. 

 Sharp frosts often occur in January, and I can say, from experience, 

 that the winter in the interior of the Middle Island of New Zealand 

 is quite as severe as winter in the north of Scotland generally. 



The following flowers and plants have stood in the garden and 

 grounds without the slightest protection for five winters, and mostly 

 all bloom vigorously throughout the season — viz.. Geraniums and 

 Pelargoniums, Fuchsias var., Indian Azaleas, Magnolias, Begonias, Ca- 

 mellias, and Myrtles. All the Cape and Japanese bulbs that were intro- 

 duced have done remarkably well. The Peruvian Heliotrope, which is 

 very susceptible of frost in England, has passed three winters out of 

 doors without the slightest injury. Many of the tender annuals, as they 

 are termed in Britain, flower better in winter than in summer. I 

 shall not enumerate these in the present paper, but, with the permis- 

 sion of the Editor, shall continue the subject in a future number of the 



' Gardener.' Andrew Simpson. 



{To he continued.) 



PEAKS OK" QUIlSrCE STOCKS TN SCOTLAND. 



Some of your correspondents have expressed doubts as to the well- 

 doing of Pears on Quince Stocks in your country. It is quite possible 

 that in some soils and on some sites they do not succeed thoroughly, 

 but they may do well in some places. The enclosed note from one 

 of the most able pomologists in Scotland, and now living on the banks 

 of the Tweed, will testify. T. R. 



The Standard Pears on the Quince in the orchard-house were sights 

 to be seen. People sometimes ask how long such trees will live. 

 Mine have been planted where they are twenty-one years, and some 

 for a longer period. They are from twenty-four to twenty-seven years 

 of age, and seem as likely to last as anything I have got. R. 0. B. 



