FOREIGN NOTICES. 



Eoi^elgi] Holiec^. 



It is to be feared that all round London the hopes of the gardener have been destroyed by a 

 sudden and severe frost on the night of the 24th inst. From the 18th to the 20th the weather was 

 excessively hot for the period of the season, the thermometer indicating 77° in the shade on the 

 19th; and as high as 95* in the sun on the 21st. A strong gale commenced from north-east on the 

 night of the 22d, and continued on the 23d, on the night of which there was 1° of frost ; but the blos- 

 soms were safe. On the evening of the 24th there was 1° of frost at 10 P. M. ; but during the 

 night the thermometer fell to 18° — or 14° below freezing, notwithstanding the heat arising from 

 the ground. "Where this heat Avas prevented from affecting the thermometer by a radiator, the 

 temperature of the air was as low as 12°. 



The frost was what is termed a black frost, of the most pervading description. Apple, Pear, 

 Plum, and Cherry blossoms are everywhere killed. There may be a few from later blossoms, and 

 a few naturally late-blooming Apples, but all the most valuable are completely destroyed. Peaches 

 and Nectarines on a good south wall have suffered, but such of the young fruit as wei'e leaning 

 against the warm wall are supposed to be safe. The shoots of Walnuts are hanging wet, black, 

 and soft, as if par-boiled. 



There is no record of the thermometer having been thus low in April, near London, in the pres- 

 ent century at least. 



Accounts from the surrounding counties are to the same effect. Near Tunbridge "Wells, the 

 thermometer fell to 25°, and the most abundant young crop of Apricots, Peaches, and Pears, which 

 had been seen for several ^'ears, was entirely destroyed. In Hampshire, near the Andover Road- 

 Station, between 4 and 5 o'clock, the thermometer was 14" below the freezing point. The whole 

 of the blooms on the Cherries, Pears, Plums, and Apples, totally perished ; also the young Apri- 

 cots, which were larger than Damsons, and all the Greengage Plums, as well as Rhubarl>, and 

 every Asparagus head which was above ground. Such destruction has never before been seen by 

 our correspondent. 



At Sawbridgeworth, although Mr. Rivers observed the thermometer no lower than 25°, all the 

 wall fruit which was not well covered, all the standard Pear, Plum, and Cherry blossoms, and the 

 greater part of the Apples, if not all, utterly perished. 



Near Worthing the common Box lost nearly all its old leaves; our informant assures us that 

 he found the inside of them a solid plate of ice. 



Next week we shall no doubt have abundant confirmation of this sad announcement. — Garden- 

 ers' Chronicle, of April 29. 



Sale of Plants at Ealing Park. — The sale of Mrs. Lawrence's magnificent collection of stove 

 and greenhouse plants commenced on Thursday last, and will be finished to-night. The first day 

 was wet and cold ; nevertheless upwards of 50 people attended, consisting of the princij)al me- 

 tropolitan nurserymen, several noblemen and gentlemen's gardeners, and one or two gentlemen. 

 Among the latter we noticed, W. Upton, Esq., of Forest Hill, and II. Colyer, Esq., of Dartford. 

 The plants were, for the most part, in good condition, and realized, upon the whole, fair prices. 

 When we were present on Thursday some of the largest of the specimens were brought forward. 

 We observed that the enormous Epacris grandijlora, which for many years formed the crown 

 head of the Ealing Park collection at the Chiswick fetes, was bought by Mr. Eyles, for the Crys- 

 tal Palace Company, for 12/. lOs. ; this fine plant was quite six feet high, and as much through, 

 and covered with bloom, A Polygala acuminata, of similar size, and also in flower, was put up. 



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