16 SEPTEMBER 1949, Page 18

In the Garden Why does watering, from can or hose,

have less effect than rain ? The strange, unprecedented succession of droughts, or near-droughts, has ruined the potato and carrot harvest, dwarfed the Michaelmas daisies and prematurely withered leaves of all sorts. Even persistent, regular watering of carrots, at any rate, has not produced nearly a full crop. As to potatoes, on well-manured land, the measure of two sizable tuber, to a root surpasses the average in my potager, and the lettuces " bolted," with one award, like a good many of the farmers' roots. One result of extra sunlight is that apples are ready to pick weeks before the due date. Even Bramleys, which comparatively are conspicuously big and numerous, already, a week ago, ahnon dropped into your hand. W. SEAL Tnotdas.