17 FEBRUARY 1950, Page 14

In the Garden

It has been claimed that February is much the best time for giving your raspberries plenty of potash ; and therefore February is the time for the garden bonfire. This is one of the few bits of advice that I have followed year by year, and have felt rewarded by a consistently good crop. Now I see that Col. Shewell-Cooper, that eminent authority, says that goose- berries and red currants are much fonder of potash than raspberries and black currants, and therefore advises their juxtaposition. So in future the relics of the garden bonfire will be differently distributed. What of course is especially important is that the ash should be kept dry. It is often worth while to sack it, if a home supply of potash is desired.

W. BEACH THOMAS.