19 NOVEMBER 1948, Page 15

In the Garden To plant now or to wait ?

That is the present question in regard to such crops as broad beans, even peas and many annual flowers. I should have expected that the popularity of cloches, which still increases, would have encouraged autumn sowing ; but., on the whole, it is perhaps the other way for the reason that the cloche makes very early sowing safe, and these early crops come to fruition as soon as those sown, with greater risk, in the late autumn. A shrub that has done peculiarly well with me this 'year is the Stranvoesia ; the berries are very red and numerous. and the leaves still fresh and green with just an occasional dash of autumnal colour. It is the hardiest of shrubs. W. BEACH THOMAS.