In the Garden The garden seems to be at its
idlest moment during January and February ; but there are some things that are best done then and some that can only be done then with any profit. One of these latter duties is the supplying of fruit trees with some sort of potash. This last season, which was bad for fruit, provided some astonishing examples of the results of this class of manure. Manured apples and plums bore heavily while their next door neighbours were as good as barren. A generous supply of such a fertiliser as kainit may do wonders if forked-in during February ; and most neglected soils are short of potash. To all young trees the neighbourhood of grass is peculiarly frustrating. A three-foot circle of open soil is necessary if they are to grow well ; and the clearing of such a space may fitly precede the application of kainit or what not. Winter frost is an enemy to fruit trees only in one particular. It may—and this season did—loosen the soil round the roots
to a dangerous degree. All recently planted trees ought to be trodden firm as soon as the weather allows. Another example of the effect of frost' is the heaving up of the lead lines on a
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