REMARKS OX THE WEATHER, 
After a very changeable and protracted winter, a sort of summer 
has set in upon us rather suddenly, and without any intermediate 
season which might be called spring. Of course vegetation was kept 
in check by the first, and too rapidly excited by the drier and warmer 
change. East and northerly winds have, however, prevailed, and the 
air on evenings has been chilly and ungenial. The flowers of plums, 
pears, and early cherries have suffered greatly in all exposed situations; 
and wall-fruit, from the night frosts, are in many places entirely cut 
off. Hardly any of the fruit-trees have blossomed strongly : the apple 
blossom particularly seems to have been hurt by the cold and wet, while 
yet in the bud; for, in looking at an orchard, we can only see a tree 
here and there covered with healthy bloom. A sprinkling of the fruit 
is fairly set; but there is no estimating, as yet, the probable amount 
of crop. 
These casualties, affecting so much the cultivation of fruit, causing 
painful disappointment after much expense and care bestowed, and the 
strongest hopes excited, will more than ever impress the necessity of 
defending fruit-trees from the changes of weather during the time they 
are in flower. This is a resolution taken, perhaps, by every cultivator 
immediately after any serious loss of fruit; but, some how or other, 
that impression wears off; and when the time arrives at which such 
precaution should be taken, from some favouring aspect of the sky, or 
some delusive hope that the present will not be so severe as the former 
year, the intended measure is tlelayed till an unexpected frost reminds 
the superintendant of his remissness. 
We have noticed this season what we have often had proofs of before, 
that the flower-buds of peach and nectarine trees are destructible by 
frost long before they open or are coloured, retaining, however, just as 
much vigour as will enable them to open weakly and drop off. Trees 
which we have attended to this spring have been regularly covered 
every night with Russia mats, since they first began to swell and show 
a little colour; but, notwithstanding, not a single fruit has set, though 
they were very likely trees to bear. This shows that the flowers were 
injured before the coverings were applied. 
On the morning of the 14th inst. we had, about London, a heavy 
and delightful shower of warm rain, happening most opportunely for 
seedling crops and fruit-trees. It seems to have been but partial, and 
a dry south-easterly wind has again set in. 
Lilacs and laburnums are now in full flower; but the mulberry-tree 
(the best index of the advance of the season) is just beginning to be 
greenish. 
May ( lAth, 1836- 
