MONTHLT CALENDAR. 49&- 



in one hai-monious whole, the glories of mature summer foliage — the "sere 

 and yellow leaf" of autumn with the delicate tints and tender foliage of 

 spring, we should have very decided indications of the fading year. 



1537. As it is, the dark green masses of the woods are already relieved, 

 and their edges lighted up by the russet, brown, and yellow, which, under the 

 bi'oad rays of the sun, glitter in golden splendour in the landscape. And 

 then the deep azure of an August sky, and the silvery clouds which float 

 about, and the profound repose which has been so frequently sung and said as 

 the distinguishing feature of the month, both by naturalist and poet, when 



" All heaven and earth are still, though not asleep, 

 But breathless, as we grow when feeling most." 



1538. The broad fern now arrests the eye with its russet-colom-ed leaves; 

 the autumnal crocus, with its saffron-coloured petals, is now in bloom, and the 

 lilac-coloured flowers of the wild mint are found in moist and shady places. 

 The pinky petals of the lavender-plant are now in full blossom, filling the air 

 with their sweet perfume ; the air is also musical with the hum of bees ; the 

 pearly blossoms of spring have disappeared from the hawthorn hedge-rows, 

 to be succeeded by its fruit of pendent rubies, 



1539. In the garden, also, August is the " pivot" of the year,— the month 

 in which the gardener may see the full fruition of his hopes, or console him- 

 self, as best he may, for any measure of disai^pointment, by preparations for 

 the future. His beds are now in full bloom, the foliage in its perfection ; and 

 under the most perfect arrangement, a fastidious eye wUl remark deficiencies 

 to be supplied in next year's arrangement ; in fact, August is the month 

 when the man of taste must settle his plans for next year. The brilliant 

 dahlia, the gorgeous sunflower, and the lordly -looking hollyhock, have taken 

 the place of the lilies, associated with the magnificent perpetual-blooming 

 roses, and the splendid flowers of the Amaranth family : — 



*' Immortal Amaranth, a flower which once 

 In Paradise, fast by the Tree of Life, 

 Began to bloom." 



The humble-blooming, but fragi-ant mignonette, ''our commonest and most 

 tangible memento of the EgyjDtian campaign " of Nelson and the Nile, with 

 which the world rang in the beginning of the centuiy, for it is a native of 

 Egypt, whence it was brought by some flower-loving follower of the first 

 :Napoleon. Since that period, it has become the cherished inhabitant of 

 many a cottage-garden and window-frame. 



1540. The mean temperature of August is higher than that of July, beiag. 

 61*28«* at the surface, 61-80° at foot, and 61-26° two feet below. 



§ 2.— Flower-Garden and Shrubbery. 



1541. The flower-garden will now be in its greatest beauty, and every means 

 must be taken to keep turf, gravel, and edgings of all kinds in the neatest 

 order ; dead flowers should be picked off daily, and stray growths reduced withia 



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