144 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
tranquil, and almost unprecedented for the serenity of its sky, and the uniform 
character of its weather. April was a little more disturbed ; but still there 
was no severe weather to check any of the common hardy plants, though 
more delicate ones required a little shelter from white frosts, which were, 
however, neither frequent nor severe. The consequence was, that tulips, and 
many other flowers, showed remarkably well, and were three weeks or a month 
earlier than in the average of seasons. The wind, and some rather bleak showers, 
tinged a few of the cups with green spots; but, in general, the bloom is as 
beautiful as the plants had been promising. We may say the same of all the 
early border flowers ; nor is there any doubt that it will hold equally with the. 
late ones, for such roots as were in the ground were hardened by the frost 
without being injured ; and the store ones were not stimulated and weakened 
by that premature and frequently checked growth which shows itself when 
March and April are alternately shining and showery. 
During May the weather has been still more irregular ; but upon the whole 
it has been good growing weather, as is evinced by the leaves of the deciduous 
trees, which, though they have not come very early, have come in all their 
strength; and, as we can now dread little blighting weather, the foliage of the 
groves will be delightful, and, if the expression may be allowed, the whole 
face of nature will be as it were one flower. The course of the weather has, 
indeed, been very extraordinary, as much so as those continued and heavy 
rains by which it was preceded ; and we know not when the change may come, 
though come it must. The Midsummer rains are the earliest time at which a 
great change may be expected ; and, though thisAhange may be a serious one 
for the farmer, it will not fall so heavy upon the florist, except in the blooming 
of autumnal flowers, and the ripening of seeds. In as far as the roses of 
autumn are concerned, this would be rather a serious matter, because the roses 
of autumn are certainly superior to those of June, in their appearance, their 
perfume, and the continuation of their flowering. They are also the roses 
which are best adapted for hybridization, and for all the higher departments of 
the culture of these finest of all flowers ; and therefore the loss of the blooms, 
and especially the seeds of them, even for a single season, would fall heavy 
upon the floriculturist, especially the breeder of roses, whom it would throw 
back for a whole year. 
Therefore we naturally look with some anxiety to St. Swithin, and hope 
that if any portion of his bones are yet remaining, the dean and chapter of 
Winchester will leave them alone, at least for the present season, in kindness 
to the growers of flowers. 
It is true that the autumnal rains are not very constant to this dripping 
saint, but may come a month earlier, or a month later, from natural causes? 
in utter disregard for his censure. If, however, he has any control over the 
weather, we wish he would leave his aquatic propensities to a few gentle 
showers, until the flowers of autumn are safe; and, for the sake of the physical 
wants of mankind, until the crops are got in; and then, if it so please 
his saintship, he may have his six weeks without doing serious mischief to 
any one. 
