310 THE GARDENER. [July 



not exempt from the exceptionally severe weather that prevailed from 

 March till the beginning of the second week of June : on the 15th 

 March we had 17° of frost; on the 7th, 8th, and 9th April 

 we experienced G°, 9°, and 12° of frost each night respectively; and 

 again, on the IGth May, we had 10° of frost. On these very severe 

 mornings, and others less severe, but still frosty, which preceded and 

 followed them, we, in addition to our preventive measures, employed 

 also restorative means in the shape of cold water from the garden 

 engine ; the trees were kept drenched from peep of day till the sun 

 had warmed the atmosphere. I believe this did much good; I am 

 persuaded, at least, that it did no harm. Our thinnings of Apricots 

 would have furnished the trees twice over with fair crops. Peaches 

 will not bear thinning, but there is a respectable sprinkling on most 

 trees. Plums are fair crops, and Cherries also are fair ; Apples and 

 Pears, neither of them protected, are exceedingly thin crops. 



This subject of the protection of fruit in spring is interesting as 

 well as important, and to many, I have no doubt, it would be ac- 

 ceptable to see it fairly discussed from various points of view. 



W. Sutherland. 



MiNTO Gardens. 



ISrOTES GIST AUTUMN AND WINTER 

 FLOWEIIING PLANTS. 



{Continued from 'page 264.) ■ 



THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



Thls is another fine autumn flower, and well repays all the labour be- 

 stowed upon it. Where there is a great demand for them in long suc- 

 cession, it is advisable to put in a batch of cuttings in November, then 

 another in February or March, if only for decorative purposes. Put 

 these cuttings into a 3-inch pot, in equal parts of loam, leaf-mould, and 

 sand ; place them in a close frame until rooted ; then they may stand 

 in any light place where the frost is just kept from them. This is 

 applicable to the November cuttings, always looking closely after them, 

 so that they never get pot-bound, and shifting them into larger pots as 

 the roots get to the sides of the pots. If properly attended to, the 

 earliest lot will be ready for their blooming-pots about the end of May — 

 11-inch pots are large enough — giving them good rich soil. It can 

 scarcely be made too rich for them, looking carefully after the drainage; 

 if this gets wrong, when so much water is being given them, they get 

 yellow leaves and become unhealthy, which tells on them when the 

 blooming period arrives. 



When finished potting, if a piece of ground can be got to plunge 



