JANUARY. 
13 
and for this simple reason, that it is quite impossible to determine 
whether they are shown in their natural state, or not. The exhibitor may 
be honest, but then his honesty ought to be capable of being tested, and 
no judge can know the character of those whose productions he is called 
upon to decide on ; and, if he be dishonest, he may say that the act of 
taking them out of the tubes by force has disengaged the foliage from 
the bud. I hope, therefore, that at the next National—which I have 
no doubt will even surpass its predecessors—this practice will be equally 
a disqualification as the other. I hope to visit “ the Lion in his den ” 
ere that takes place, and to talk over this and other matters with him 
about the fair Una whom he protects, and acts— 
. . . . “ as a strong guard 
Of her chaste person, and a faithful mate 
Of her sad troubles and misfortunes hard. 
Still when she slept he kept both watch and ward, 
And when she waked he worketh diligent 
With humble service to be prepared. 
From her fair eyes he took commandment.” 
For now, when winter throws his mantle over her, he scans her 
closely, and prepares to welcome her opening eyes, when the warm days 
of spring bid her once more awake. May she reward him with many 
a gracious smile, next year, and he drink her health out of other silver 
, won by the prowess of his brawny arms ! 
D. 
Deal, Dec, 8. 
1860. 
The year which has just passed away will be long remembered as the 
wettest and coldest of the present century, the effects of which will 
be felt for years to come. It is useless speculating on the causes 
which have produced the continued rains and low temperature which 
have characterised the year 1860, from February to December inclusive ; 
but without placing much faith in any of the weather prognostics 
hitherto propounded, we are not insensible to the great importance of 
the subject—one above all others interesting to cultivators, who have 
to contend against the influences of adverse seasons in a hundred ways ; 
and if any reliable data could be established whereby the forthcoming 
seasons could be anticipated, we should hail it as an invaluable boon to 
the gardener. 
In reference to the effects of the season, we have only space to notice 
a few facts bearing upon the subject; and first, we may take the Peach, 
which appears to have suffered in some degree everywhere, and to 
have been entirely killed in many places. To explain the matter fully, 
we must go back to the autumn of 1859, which, up to the third week 
of October, was characterised by a moist and high temperature, inducing 
a vigorous autumnal growth in the Peach as well as other fruit trees. 
The frost which followed at the end of that month was very severe, and 
at once arrested the action of the foliage and left no means of escape for 
