21 MAY 1942, Page 10

Icemen

Queries have reached me on the exacter meaning of "The Festi of the Three Icemen." Three Catholic saints occupy on calendar the three successive days, May 12th to 14th; and are kna (especially, I think, in Austria) as the Drei Eismiinner. It is h by horticulturists there that when this critical date has passed t fruit blossom should be safe from killing frosts. As this fesn is very nearly identical with one of Buchan's cold spells, arrived independently, we may decide (as one of my correspondent's corded experience has decided) that the incidence of frost at a this date is a normal event.