THE GARDEN UNFADING.

155

red and white roses gave abroad their delicious fragrance; and the larkspur waved gracefully in the breath of the morning wind.

'I know where a garden grows

Fairer than aught in the world beside.'

It is the garden which the imagination and memory of the poets fill with bloom and music-a garden which autumn cannot scorch into decay with its 'fiery finger,' which winter never deadens with frost and snow; a garden where it is always spring or summer, the flush of young life or its rich maturity; a garden which is ever open to the happy guest, yielding up to him its treasures without stint, and charming him by its gracious variety. This, indeed, is 'a thornless garden,' a true unfading Eden, in the green recesses of which our souls may take refuge when they will from the din and fret of the work-day world.

CHAPTER VI.

THE GIRL'S AMATEUR GARDENER'S CALENDAR; OR, ALL THE YEAR ROUND IN THE GIRL'S GARDEN.

Value of a Garden-Size of the Garden-Manuals that may be Consulted— Successful Gardening-Its Perpetual Interest-Work for JANUARY— Planting Fruit-Trees-Note for January-Work for FEBRUARY-Mrs. Loudon quoted on Seed-Sowing-Note for February-Work for MARCHThe Month for Seed-Sowing-Quotation from 'A Summer in My Garden' -Note for March-APRIL-Alexander Smith quoted-A Busy Time for the Gardener-Note for April-MAY-The Month of the PoetsSpenser's Description of it-Milton's Stately Verse-Chaucer on the Beauties of May-Associations of May-A Picture of the Country in May from 'Greene Ferne Farm'-Orchises-Fulness of Life-The Month for 'Bedding-out'-Note for May-JUNE-The Month of Roses -Leigh Hunt's Delightful Picture of a Garden-The Feel of June-A Poet's Dreamland - Associations connected with Roses-Varieties of Grasses-Beauty of Flower-Gardens in June-Note for June-JULY-The Maturity of the Year-The Garden no Place for the Idler-Work to be Done-Note for July-Varieties of Pelargoniums or Geraniums and Fuchsias-AUGUST-Autumn Begins-George Macdonald's LinesExtermination of Garden Pests-Note for August - SEPTEMBER—A September Scene'-Trench's Autumn Song-Compensating Pleasures of Autumn-Wm. Howitt's Autumnal Reflections-The Influence of September in the Garden-A Picture of the Later Autumn-tide from The Earthly Paradise'--Work for the Month-Note for September

VALUE OF A GARDEN.

107

List of Herbaceous and Alpine Plants-OCTOBER-Extract from 'A Year in a Lancashire Garden'-Practical Experience of more value than Theoretical Instruction-Note for October-The Cultivation of Hyacinths-NOVEMBER-The Dreariest Month-Wm. Howitt says, No! -Chrysanthemums recommended-List of Roses recommended-Best Time for Rose-planting--A Few Good Clematises-DECEMBER―The 'Frost Spirit' Comes-The Value of Frost-Christmas Roses-Note for December-Mr. Robinson's Cautions.

BELIEVE it is impossible to over-estimate the value of a Garden; to over-estimate the extent to which it promotes the happiness of its possessor.

In the first place, the enjoyment it furnishes is pure and unselfish, is gained at the cost of no other person's pleasures or interests. In the second, it enables us to contribute to the entertainment of our friends, and this in itself is a source of satisfaction to a well-regulated mind. In the third, if we cultivate however small a plot of ground with our own hands, we cannot fail to feel the delight which springs from industry and the reward of industry. We learn to take an individual concern in every plant and flower. They assume the rank of personalities; we grow intimate with them, with their wants, characters, peculiarities. They cease to be things material and inanimate; we infuse into them something of our own quick vitality. We mark their various stages of progress; we lament their inevitable decay. Their prosperity seems to reflect a certain credit upon ourselves; have not our labours been in some degree the cause of it? Do we not see in the blossom and fruit around us the result of our loving care, our affectionate diligence? I remember to have met somewhere with the advice, given to a farmer, but applicable, I think, to every man of moderate means, that he should prepare and set aside a rood or so of ground for his wife and daughters, and, out of love to them, make it all they could wish or desire. It is such things which make the sunshine of Home; it is the lack of these which has driven many a loving heart out into the world's wilderness. Give to wife and daughters a place where they may plant and tend and rear their flowers; help them, if need