April 1, 1886. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
255 
We have experienced a very long and trying winter for the garden. 
Frost was registered for the first time on the 25th of September, being 
the earliest date on which it has occurred during the past twelve winters, 
being the limit of my experience of the Devonshire climate. Though it 
commenced thus early, having our tender vegetables and flowers destroyed, 
yet during the next two months frost was only registered on five occa¬ 
sions for each month, the minimum also for each being 5°. October was 
a rainy month, rendering the gathering and storing of fruits in such a 
dry condition as one would wish rather difficult. December was dull, 
frosty, and cold, nineteen nights having frost registered. The cold seems 
now to have set in, for January records show twenty-two, and February, 
twenty-four frosty nights. The first month of the year rain fell frequently 
vegetable shed, from which place batches are taken as required to the 
forcing house. The same with Asparagus, it was taken up and heeled iu 
where it was easy of access whenever required for forcing. Rhubarb 
covered outside has come on very slowly, so much so that we have been 
obliged to take up extra roots and place in the forcing house. Parsley 
roots only attained to a very small size last year, consequently that has 
been scarce. 
Fruit trees have their buds well retarded, so much that we hope to- 
escape the sharp frosts that frequently prevail when they are in bloom. Our 
Apricots, which were in full bloom on the 10.h of March last year, the 
date on which our cloths were put up for protecting them, have only a 
few dozen blooms expanded at the time of writing. Peaches and Necta- 
Fig. 46.— Cyrtopodium punctatum var. Saintlegerianum. 
during the day, and with frosty nights, evergreens, such as are not per¬ 
fectly hardy, suffered much, Camellias, some of the Hybrid Rhododendrons; 
Desfontanias were very much cut, while Veronicas were killed. 
Green vegetables had become exceedingly scarce. Broccoli were very 
small, owing in great part to the preceding dry summer and autumn, 
and have been cut by May and used for greens, the chances being that 
only very small heads would have been formed. Borecole and Kale that 
had been topped before Christmas have scarcely broken again. Celery, 
where not protected during the cold of January and February, was 
destroyed. Brussels Sprouts have been seriously cut where exposed, but 
our own have yielded a continuous supply. Spinach made very little 
growth, but being perfectly hardy, has been valuable. Turnips have not 
yielded any greens, but the roots have remained in fine condition for use, 
Veitch’s Red Globe being an excellent winter Turnip, in fact we grow it 
all the summer, for after it has thrown up its flower stems in summer it is 
excellent for table use ; not so with most other varieties. Seakale roots 
are all taken up before Christmas and stacked in a dry state in the 
rines cannot be out until April has advanced. Pears are swelling their 
buds since the mild and rainy weather has set in. Apples are very back¬ 
ward, indeed scarcely making a move, but together with Pears are well 
set with bloom buds, even though we had such an abundance last year. 
Plums and Cherries are equally backward, and are thickly studded with 
bloom buds. Gooseberries have been attacked by the bullfinches and 
aaarrows much more than usual. These are just bursting their foliage. 
At present there is every prospect of another fruitful season. Planting 
operations have been much retarded where left till spring. Our fruit 
trees were all planted, and others lifted that required, some time before 
Christmas. The mulching of decayed manure placed around each being 
again mulched with long stable manure, and pegged down to prevent the 
birds from digging it out. This keeps the borders tidy, being as neat 
now as when put on four months ago, and will remain so during the 
coming spring and summer, providing also against drought. 
The great change that has taken place will cause rapid strides to be 
made a few days only having brought out the Daffodils, Primroses, &c., 
