24 MAY 1946, Page 9

In My Garden Bonifacius, the last of the three Ice

Saints, was grimly true to reputa- tion. On his festal day, May 14th, fell a killing frost that blackened potatoes, made even the broad helms wilt and cut many a flowering plant. The worst sufferer in my beds was the Bocconia. The havoc was very severe in gardens that had little "air drainage," but the fruit, at any rate in more open gardens and on upper ground, was quite unaffected. Once again we had evidence that of all the prophesied spells, Buchan or other, the mid-May frost is the most lamentably regular. We may now, perhaps, proceed more confidently to sow our sweet corn and put out our tomatoes, but delay is recommended. W. BEACH THOMAS.