278 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 8, 1886. 
heaviest experienced here was January 7tb. which laid about in drifts 
until the change of weather set in. The ground has been tolerably clear 
of snow throughout the winter, giving farmers and gardeners a chance to 
proceed with manuring. Garden crops, through the absence of snow, 
being so much exposed to the severity of the weather, had a scorched 
appearance, hut have suffered but little. All fruit trees are well set with 
fruit buds and promise well for the coming season. The mild weather 
has worked a marvellous change. Grass and crops are everywhere green. 
The spring flowers have come with a rush, and are already plentiful. Iris 
reticulata, in flower last year with me on February 10th, did not open a 
bloom in the open border until March 2'2nd, and is now a mass of bloom, 
and the most striking object in the garden at the present time.—W m. 
Allan, Gunton Park Gardens. 
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. 
The winter in this district has been a long and trying one for all 
kinds of vegetation. Commencing early in November, we had frost and 
snow until December 14th. From that time up to January 3rd it was 
comparatively mild; a period of frost and snow then set in without inter¬ 
mission up to March 19th, from which up to March 27th the weather was 
remarkably mild, and the effect on early spring flowers is magical. 
Snowdrops, Crocuses, Hepaticas, Scillas, Daphnes, Daffodils, Primroses, 
and Violets are all in flower together. The most severe frost we had 
here was on the 7th of March, when we had 25° of frost. Brussels 
Sprouts, Broccoli, Lettuce, Celery, and Cabbage suffered severely. Veitch’s 
Model Broccoli, Asparagus Kale, and Sprouting Broccoli have stood well. 
Portugal Laurels have suffered the worst amongst shrubs, a few of them 
are killed in places exposed to the east wind. Roses are safe, no doubt 
the snow saved them ; all fruit trees are now swelling their buds, aDd are 
promising well for a good crop. Taken altogether, the past winter will be 
long remembered for its unusual length and sunless days.—J. Edmonds, 
Besiwood Lodge Gardens. 
RUTLANDSHIRE. 
Judging from the reports published we have been more fortunate in 
the midland district this season than our neighbours either north or south. 
We have had a long winter and much frost, but at no time very severe, 
the most we bave had being 15° on December 11th, and also on March 7th, 
as registered by a thermometer certified at Kew, and which hangs in a 
Stevenson screen. We generally get 4° or 5° more than our immediate 
neighbours, as this place is situated at the bottom of a valley with a 
stream of water running through it. The only plants generally considered 
hardy here that have suffered from the frost, &c., are Wallflowers, 
Brompton Stocks, Spinach, Myosotis dissitiflora, and Victoria Regina 
Violets. The last three are severely affected. The common Laurels are 
very slightly browned. 
The average maximum temperature here for the seventy-seven days, 
ending March 18th, is 38 89°. Average minimum in the screen for the 
seventy-seven days, ending March 18th, is 28 - 63°. Average minimum on 
the grass for the seventy-seven days, ending March 18th, is 28-02°. Total 
rainfall for the same period, January 1st to March 18th inclusive, 
4'40 inches. Frost this season commenced suddenly on September 26th, 
and Heliotropes, Dahlias, Pelargoniums, &c., were cut very much* 
Highest shade temperature in September was 75° cn 15th ; total rainfall 
for the month 3-01 inches. October was very changeable, with several 
slight frosts and much rainy weather. Highest shade temperature was 
63° on 16th ; lowest in screen, 29°, on the 30th ; lowest on grass, 30° on 
25th and 30tb ; total rainfall for the month, 5-42 inches. November was 
another rainy mon h ; the total rainfall was 311 inches, which fell on 
twenty-tbree days. On the 27th we had a very heavy hailstorm with 
thunder. The highest shade temperature was 57° on 28th ; lowest in stand 
21° on 16th, and 22° on 19tb ; lowest on grass, 24° on 16th and 19th. 
December was very changeable, but principally dull damp weather. The 
first snow of the season, only a few flakes, fell on the 4th. Lowest tempe¬ 
rature in stand, 17° on 11th ; lowest on grass, 20° on 11th ; highest shade 
temperature, 53° on 17th; total rainfall, 0-92 inch, which fell on seven¬ 
teen days. January was a very winterly month, much snow fell, which, 
as a rule, soon melted, but on the morning of the 25th it was 6 inches 
deep. The ground was cover.-d with snow from 20th to 31st. Highest 
shade temperature, 52° on 3rd; lowest in screen, 21° on 19th; lowest 
on grass, 22° on 10th and 19th ; total rainfall, 3 07 inches. February 
was remarkable for a low temperature and absence of either rain or snow, 
only 0'30 inch falling during the moDth, and this fell during thirteen days. 
Highest shade temperature, 51° on 14th ; all other days the maximum was 
below 46°, and on seventeen of them it was below 40° ; lowest temperature 
in screen was 19° on 15th and 20th ; lowest on grass, 23° on 7th, 15tb, and 
27th. The wind was in a northerly direction nineteen days, and eastward 
thirteen days during the month. March began very winterly, snow 
falling all day on the 1st, and was 4 inches deep at 6 P.M., and this had 
not ail melted on 16ib, when we had another snowy day, the fall being 
equal to 0 21 inches of ra n, but fortunately a change to milder weather set 
in on the 18th, which it is hoped may now continue.—W. H. Divers, 
Ketton Hall, Stamford. 
SOMERSETSHIRE. 
The winter of 1885-6 has been the most protracted and trying that 
has occurred within memory. The frosty and easterly winds were the 
worst, especially during the early part of March. We had severe frosts 
early in December and again early in January. On the night of January 
7th the thermometer fell to 11°, or 21° below freezing point. During the 
early part of March we had sharp frosts every night, ranging from 6° to 
18°, and on March 7th we experienced 22°. On March 18th we had a 
sudden change, and, on the whole, so little harm has apparently been 
done that we have ceased to grumble about the weather. We bad but 
little snow, the most being on March 5th, or about 3 inches, and the bulk 
of this soon disappeared. Conifers and other trees are uninjured. All the 
winter vegetables have a scorched appearance, but none is killed, neither 
have we failed to maintain a fairly good supply of Brussels Sprouts and 
Kales, owing to the firm growth, consequent upon planting on firm 
ground. The Green Curled Borecole has been especially serviceable, 
while the Asparagus Kale will shortly yield numerous gatherings. Tripoli 
Onions, Parsley, and Cabbage plants are very scarce. A great number 
of birds died from starvation, but I find there are plenty left, more black¬ 
birds than are wanted in fact, and, strange to say, a considerable number 
of slugs were to be seen directly the change came. Our clayey soil now 
works well, and as we shall have abundance of bloom on all fruit trees I 
am looking forward to a prosperous year.—W. Iggulden, Marston 
Gardens, Frome. 
STAFFORDSHIRE. 
My own experience is that the winter has been most disastrous to all 
green vegetables ; Borecole stood fairly well; Broccoli was nearly all 
killed ; autumn-planted Cabbage very much cut; Veitch’s Matchless and 
Ellam’s Dwarf has stood the best ; Early Heartwell is nearly all gone ; 
Brussels Sprouts are much injured ; the Aigburth has escaped the best, 
and is invaluable at the present time ; winter Spinach where fully ex¬ 
posed suffered very much, but where sheltered by a range of houses is 
fairly good and will be very useful as a green spring vegetable. Where 
houses and pits can be spared it will be a good plan to grow a supply of 
French Beans to meet the difficulty as far as possible, also hasten the 
growth of autumn-sown Cauliflowers by planting them in frames with a 
gentle bottom heat. As far as I can see at present Roses are not much 
hurt ; shrubs generally I do not think are injured to any great extent. 
The lowest temperature registered here was on the 6th of March, when we 
had 20° of frost.—G. H. Green, Enville Hall Gardens, Stourbridge. 
SUSSEX. 
Brambletye stands ou a high exposed situation 400 feet above the 
sea level, but we did not get the frost so severe—from 11° to 18° this 
winter—aB our friends in the valley, but we are exposed to the east wind, 
which affects tender shrubs and plants seriously. The Brassicas, both 
young and old, have suffered greatly ; from a bed of 400 Cabbages planted 
in October not one plant remains, and all the old stems are killed. 
Brussels Sprouts and Borecole are nearly as bad; Savoys and Celery 
(Grove’s Red) have stood well ; Spinach, Lettuce, and Turnips are 
complete failures, being destroyed by wind and frost. Fortunately, with 
the help of some dozen spare lights, I made a reserve in January of 
Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Lettuces, Carrots, Radishes, &c., which will prove 
useful this year, and I have looked carefully over my Broccoli and am 
glad to find my old favourite, Knight’s Protecting, the best; the others are 
Miller’s Dwarf, Cattell’s Eclipse, and Wilcove. We have 95 per cent, of 
the first, and about 40 per cent, of the three others. 
Wallflowers are much injured, and it is doubtful if they will break 
again. Violets on north, east, and west borders are as bad as if they had 
been salted. Forget-me-nots, Aubrietia, and Pansies, are destroyed by 
hundreds. Shrubs have not suffered mncb with us, common Laurels are 
the worst; Roses very doubtful. Fruit trees are safe except Peaches, and 
some of the immatured wood must be cut back hard, but we need not fear 
for a crop. In the year 1880 I cut back closely, and had a good crop of 
fruit and well-furnished trees. I have tried it both inside and out, and 
have never failed with a crop.— Samuel Jenks, Brambletye Gardens. 
WARWICKSHIRE. 
The frosts and snows have not been so severe with us as in some parts 
of the county, still the winter bas been long and cold. For over four 
months we have had little sunshine, the wind north, north-east, with 
occasional snowstorms and frost nearly every night. The heaviest 
fall of snow was on 1st March, when 9 to 12 inches fell during the 
twenty-four hours it lasted. On 7th January and 7th March we registered 
18° of frost, the most this winter. The effects on vegetation will not be 
known for some time. That vegetable crops have suffered very much, 
and spring bedding have all perished. Eucalyptus globulus that have 
stood the previous winters, and attained the height of 15 feet, I fear are 
killed. Since the 19th we have had a marvellous change, can almost see 
the buds and flowers expanding. First Apricot blossoms opened on the 
25th, over a fortnight later than usual.—A. D. Christie, Castle Gardens, 
Warwick. 
WILTSHIRE. 
The long-looked-for change in the weather took place here on the 
18th inst. In glancing at the green crops in the kitchen garden con¬ 
clusive evidence is there afforded of the weather which we have ex¬ 
perienced. A reserve stock of autumn-raised Cabbage plants has suffered 
severely owing to their stems being exposed to the frost, though, for¬ 
tunately, those which had been planted from the same sowing in drills 
2 feet apart in September last, and which were landed up in due time, 
have suffered comparatively little injury. But in view of the break which 
the loss of the reserve plants would otherwise make in the supply 
of young Cabbages, which will be fully six or eight weeks late this season, 
we are pushing on the plants raised in heat in January last, some of 
the plants being pricked out in flower boxes and placfed near the glass 
