106 THE FLORIST. 



mer crops has, in many instances, hardly yet commenced ; much, 

 therefore, remains to be done, and will require considerable activity and 

 management to bring up arrears. No time must now be lost in com- 

 mitting to ground all descriptions of garden crops. Potatoes and root 

 crops, generally, should at once be completed. In many places the 

 early crops of Peas have perished in the ground, and means should be 

 taken, by forwarding some under glass, to make up this failure. The 

 same may be said of the early Cabbage and Lettuce crops, which, in 

 many districts, have been entirely killed, as are Cauliflowers and other 

 kitchen -garden plants. These failures will take some time to replace, 

 and consequently, in many places, early garden vegetables will be scarce. 

 A few frames should be devoted to pricking out spring raised vegetables 

 of this crop, so as to get them forward, by the middle of the month, for 

 transferring to the open ground ; and even early Potatoes may be forwarded 

 so as to get them to push before planting. By-the-bye, I purchased, 

 the other day, a few tubers of the new substitute for the Potato 

 (the Chinese Dioscorea), four small things, no bigger than good 

 sized pills, for half a guinea. When, in the name of goodness, are 

 these to produce tubers fit for supplying the million ? Now, I really 

 hope, for the sake of horticulture, there is no deception in this matter, 

 for I hear people are laying down their half- guineas pretty freely on 

 the new commodity. 



The planting of deciduous trees should now be brought to a close as 

 quickly as possible. Staking tall plants, and mulching their roots, are 

 necessary adjuncts. 1 should advise parties to be careful of moving 

 evergreens, except under very favourable circumstances. They are 

 somewhat sick, from the effects of the severe weather, and, consequently, 

 are not so well able to furnish new roots as healthy trees ; and a few 

 dry days, with frosty nights, would injure them almost beyond recovery. 

 If, however, their removal is absolutely necessary, wait till towards the 

 end of the month before attempting it. This will give them time to 

 rally a little, and success will be much more certain ; bearing in mind 

 that dull showery weather should be selected, if possible, and that the 

 roots and top should be kept moist afterwards. 



The prospect of a fruit crop looks very promising. The last dry 

 warm autumn had a favourable effect in arresting the growth (assisted 

 by the previous dry summer and spring) of fruit trees, and causing a 

 better development of fruit buds. This is the case, both with wall 

 trees and orchard fruits. I cannot agree with M. de Jonghe, in his theory 

 of making fruit trees independent of seasons, but the prospects this 

 year are better than for some years past, and the cold weather of the 

 spring has operated very favourably in retarding the bloom. Even 

 Apricots are with me, the 26th, not yet in bloom ! There is then, 

 I repeat, from these circumstances, good reasons for hoping that 

 the fruit crop will be good. There is, however, danger yet to be ap- 

 prehended, and I therefore advise your readers to look carefully at the 

 valuable articles which have appeared in the Florist, on fruit tree 

 protectors, and employ such means as come most easily within their 

 reach, for protecting the bloom ; but not to apply it till the flowers are 

 beginning generally to expand, and to remove them as quickly after- 

 wards as possible. G. F. 



