22 MARCH 1935, Page 18

March Pears

Among the flowers that arc early much beyond their wont is pear blossom ; and in some orchards the contrast is very abrupt with the apples. The buds of the apples have scarcely stirred while the pears promise a full display of bridal white before Easter. Their earliness interests me from the recent discovery of four doggerel lines on which a local prophet in the West Country lays great stress. They are as follows:

" If the pear trees blossom in March You need not for your harvests search.

But if they blossom in May ' You may make and mend every day."

Quite what they mean I 'Would not presume- to explain, but will the phenologists please copy !

W. BEACH THOMAS.