May 2i^, 1831. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
431 
Tears had set good crops both in the case of wall trees and those in the 
open, and I had already commenced thinning out. As faras the wall trees 
are concerned not much harm has been done ; but the fruit on those in 
the open are much injured. It is too early to judge of the effects of 
frosts on the Plum trees, and I am .still in uncertainty regarding Morello 
Cherries, the latter being only just set, and still presenting a somewhat 
gay appearance. Gooseberries arc badly hit, very much of the fruit 
being destroyed. Red Currants appear all right, but Black Currants do 
not. Strawberries are the worst damaged, not a flower or well advanced 
bud escaping. We have saved a gocd crop on the protected plants 
of Noble, and may yet have enough on the latest varieties.— 
W. I., Somerset. _ 
We have had some stormy weather here lately. On Monday morn¬ 
ing, the 18th inst., we registered r>° of frost. All the Potatoes were cut 
down, and Strawberries that were in bloom were completely spoiled. 
During the past week we have not had much improvement in the 
weather. True, we have not had the showers of sleet, but the wind 
keeps very cold, and there is a great deal of uncertainty as to the 
damage done with the severe weather of the previous week. I can hear 
accounts of Potatoes being cut down to the ground. Night tempera¬ 
tures, May 20th, 31°; 21st, 37°; 22nd, 37°; 23rd, 30°; 24th, 40°.— 
R. P. R., Liverpool. _ 
I HAVE to-day made a thorough inspection of several large fiuit 
plantations in this centre of fruit culture, and I find that in spite of the 
recent severe weather the prospect of securing an abundant crop of 
many kinds of fruits is very promis’ng. Cherry trees, as a rule, are 
thoroughly loaded with young fruits, which, a close inspection showed, 
have successfully passed the critical stage, which occurs just after the 
setting is completed, and the early kinds are beginning to swell in a 
free and promising manner ; and if the season of 1891 is not noted for 
FIG. 79.-A GARDEN SCENE AT HASELBECH HALL IN MAY. 
Besides these, our British Ferns, Lastreas, Osmundas, and Polypodiums 
were all cut down by the frost.—T. G., Keswicli, Cumberland. 
We have had another week of cold, unseasonable, and ungenial 
weather. From the afternoon of tbe 15th till the evening of the 17th 
bail and snow showers fell frequently. Tbe night temperatu-es of the 
I6th, 17th, 18th, 19tb, 20th, 21st, and 22nd were respectively 27°, 27°, 
27°, 28°, 28°, 28°, 28°. The day temperatures have been variable. The 
thermometer fluctuated between 40° and 45° on the first-mentioned 
three days, and the four last between 43° and 59°. A change appeals 
to have come. The sky is overcast, the air is calmed, and is more genial. 
The fruit blossoms where the leafage is good appear to be unharmed, 
and with the exception of early blossoms of Strawberries and some 
varieties of Gooseberries there appears to he nothing damaged as jet. 
But the protracted cold must have a baneful influence upon the 
embrjm fruit. The only fruit that has suffered to appearance is on 
•poor soil—one of the greatest arguments in favour of manuring heavily 
all fruit trees or bushes either with solid manure in the autumn or 
liquid manure in the winter.—W, T., Lanarltsliire. 
its abundance of this popular fruit the cause must be traced to unfavour¬ 
able weather after this date, as I am convinced they have come through 
the ordeal successfully so far. The same remarks apply to Plums and 
Damsons, but Gooseberries and Black Currants are casting their fruits. 
It is yet too early to s.ay what effect the weather will have upon the 
Apple blossom, but the general opinion is that not much damage is done. 
Many of the early Strawberry flowers were ruined. — H. Dunkin, 
3Iai'i stone. __ 
A FORTNIGHT ago the prospects of an abundant crop of fruit of all 
kinds was all that could be wished for; but since the 15th inst. the 
aspect of affairs has changed altogether. On the morning of the 18th 
the ground was white with snow, and on the following morning white 
with frost. Nearly everything has suffered ; on low lying ground near to 
brooks the worst effects are seen. The Apples were in full bloorn, but 
now they are looking very brown, and I am afraid very severely injured. 
On the higher ground the outlook is not nearly as bad. Damsons flowered 
profusely and set a good crop ; these are considerably thinneel, still, on 
the whole, I think there will be a fair crop. Plums, too, on low land 
are cut a good deal, on the higher ground they are very much belter 
