In My Garden I have never known so spectacular an
early summer in the garden. The frequent rains have brought the lawns to perfection, following an experimental treatment with basic slag instead of the more usual lawn- sand mixture of sulphates of ammonia and iron. All the climbing house- plants, notably clematis (Princess of Wales), cotoneaster and japonica,- have been flowering lavishly, and so far without much threat from vermin. In the vegetable garden, however, I foresee trouble. A magnificent crop of gooseberries was safely steered past the first attack of the sawfly, that aptly named " social feeder " ; but following that I had to be away from home for a week. On my return I noticed white spots on some of the lower fruit, but thought it to be the remains of the derris dust with which I had attacked the sawfly. Suddenly it has spread, and I fear it may be the American mildew (sphaerothea mors-uvae). If so, that means disaster, about which I shall report next week.
RICHARD CHURCH.
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