FEBRUARY. 
57 
Violent winds and hail are as destructive of bloom as frosts. Keeping 
the tree dry is a “ great secret.” Frosts take effect by rain or heavy 
dews. The tropical origin of such fruits ought to suggest this to every 
intelligent mind. I have seen trees this last year covered with rabbit 
nets; this, of course, is called protection—you might as well get under 
a ladder on a wet day, and call it a great-coat. One of my Peach- 
trees is against brick, and all the others against mud walls, but being 
all alike covered, I saw no difference. One error I must confess, and 
it is I had not courage enough to disfruit; the consequence is, my wood 
for this year is not quite so good as last, but still I see a good prospect 
before me. I have manured the trees highly, and hope by moderate 
crops this year to arrest further attenuation of wood. 
W. F. Radclyffe, 
Rector of Rushton, near Blandford , Dorset. 
REVIEW. 
Selected Catalogue of Roses grown for sale by John Cranston, 
King's Acre Nurseries, Hereford. 1857-8. 
Mr. Cranston, who is well known by his pamphlet on Rose Culture, 
is also a large grower of Roses for sale, and a general nurseryman. 
The list before me contains a large selection in every class. I think 
of this, as of all the other catalogues which have reached me, that both 
the number of classes and varieties might very beneficially be abridged. 
Speaking for myself, as an amateur, I may say the feeling is one 
held in common with all my friends. I should prefer purchasing a 
dozen first-rate sorts, supposing even I had two or three in duplicate, 
to the same number under different names, but of which I should 
have to discard a part after growing them a year or two. Mr. 
Cranston’s Catalogue is not so extended as some I have seen. I 
know he sends out first-rate plants, and believe his descriptions to be 
faithful, but amateurs get bewildered with so many names and classes. 
FRUIT CULTURE.—No. VIII. 
BY MR. POWELL, ROYAL GARDENS, FROGMORE. 
(Continued from page 10 ). 
The Cherry. —It is universally admitted that a dry soil is the 
most favourable for the growth of this fruit tree, and, doubtless, it is 
correct, so far as a stony loam, gravel or chalk soil is concerned, all of 
which it delights in. A dry sand is even more objectionable than a 
wet clay. 
We have seen some good gardens in England that did not contain a 
single tree of this delicate fruit, and the reason always given was, “ that 
the soil was unsuitable for its growth,” and when planted would soon 
