22 JANUARY 1927, Page 14

• This January is conspicuous for some very rare 'contrasts,

Many growths-are astonishingly early, Some few unusually late. rhave no record -of -the leaf-buds of-elimbing and polyanthus roses- being so advanced.- On some plants the bad ha& opened into leaf. On- the other hand, the honeysuckle;rwbfell often leafs in Deeember, is-only-just 'burgeoning ; and- most of the- bulbs are-late rather-than -early. Districts, too; differ more -

than usually widely ; and I should say that the West had a longer lead over the _East than is normal. It will be to the good, in spite of our desires to anticipate spring, if frost checks the premature buds and restores the normal relation.

W. BEACH THOMAS.