Ix PESTS 189 
some frost without injury, and shoots where the bud 
is not yet formed, even though apparently crippled at 
the time, will often eventually grow through it and 
completely recover. 
Protecting material must evidently be very light, 
as there will be little time to spare for driving stakes 
into the ground to support it above the highest 
shoots. Anything in the shape of light muslin or 
similar material should be hunted out and spread as 
gently as possible over the plants ; bent shoots can 
easily be straightened again, but of course care must 
be taken that they are not cracked or broken. The 
frost is not likely to be dangerous at that time of 
the year if there is wind, as that will probably bring 
cloud, the best and safest of all coverings; so even old 
newspapers or any large sheets of thin paper may be 
made useful in such cases. 
For remedial measures, when serious May frost has 
come and caught us unprotected, I would recommend, 
first and foremost, patience. Touch nothing at first: 
no one can tell for some little time, till the sun has 
shone warmly on the plants, how much or how little 
damage has beendone. Then it may be plain perhaps 
that some shoots, utterly blackened and shrivelled at 
the tips, are done for; but still I would advise the 
removal of nothing till such time as fresh growth has 
commenced. 
The soil should be well stirred, and a little nitrate 
or some other stimulant applied; this will hasten 
the renewal of growth, and we shall then see which 
of the shoots that had not formed buds have been 
actually ‘‘ stopped.”’ Those that grow straight away 
again as before from the tip of the shoot are all right. 
Never mind some leaves having been destroyed ; the 
