242 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ November, 
materially vary over the season, and in just imitation of native habitats, 
I have to recommend that, as a rule, the minimum temperature of their 
winter home should not be much less than 40°. It may be occasionally so, 
without fear of consequences; but if generally so, evil may and will follow. 
Let no one in his anxiety to adopt cool treatment throughout, be induced 
to carry his hobby too far. More plants of the kind upon which I am 
writing, suffer through a too warm summer treatment than from a too warm 
winter treatment. A good medium heat must at all times be insisted upon 
and catered for, and the plants will show their appreciation of it by stout 
growths, vigorous flower stems, and well-developed flowers. Much may be 
done by a practised grower in keeping plants cool, if with it a judicious 
system of dryness be maintained; but, as a rule, the plants in winter will 
be better a little too warm than a little too cold, with, mayhap, an injudi¬ 
cious supply of moisture. 
Meadow Bank. J. Anderson. 
THE HOT DRY SEASON OF 1868 . 
’HE warm and dry summer of 1868 will be long remembered for the 
intense heat and drought which prevailed in the months of May, 
June, and July, and its effects on vegetable and fruit crops. The 
soil in the kitchen garden here (North Notts), is very stiff and 
adhesive, but well drained, and the subsoil is the strongest of red 
clays. The following is the fall of rain registered by the rain-gauge up to 
the end of July—nearly one-half less than the average fall for these months 
—namely, 
January . 
Inch. 
. 1 
Parts. 
54 
May .... .. 
Inch. 
. 1 
Parts. 
20 
February . 
. 1 
92 
June. 
.0 
23 
March. . 
11 
July . 
. 0 
19 
April . 
. 1 
31 
7 
50 
The small hardy bush fruits, such as Gooseberries, Currants, and Rasp¬ 
berries, suffered a little from frosts on the 9th and 12th of April; but on 
the whole they produced good average crops. Strawberries are quite at 
home on the strong soil here, the British Queen never failing in producing 
good crops. The only variety which did not stand the dry warm weather, 
even with watering, was the Black Prince. Commencing with the Old 
Scarlet, or Grove End (and Rivers’ Eliza, one of the best of all Straw¬ 
berries for general gathering and preserving), I found the following suc¬ 
cession of sorts stand the hot weather well:—Sir Joseph Paxton, President, 
Sir Charles Napier, Wonderful, Dr. Hogg, Lucas, and Rev. Mr. Radclyffe. 
These I consider the best of all the kinds I have grown this year. Dr. Hogg 
with me grew to an immense size, and, like the British Queen, seems to 
thrive in strong soils; it is sweeter than the British Queen in flavour, 
