MONTHLY CALENDAR. 691 



lauristinus with its clusters of half-opened flowers ; and in the shrubbery the 

 arbutus presents the singular appearance of ruddy strawberry-like fruit on 

 the same branch with delicate trusses of white flowers ; and the well-known 

 clematis, the "traviler'sjoie" of old Gerard, "decketh and adorneth waies and 

 hedges where people travell, which is also termed Virgin's Bower, by reason 

 of the goodly shadowe which it maketh with its thick bushing and climbing, 

 and Old Man's Beard from the hoary appearance of the seeds, which remain 

 long on the hedges." To these we may add the ivy and holly, with its bright 

 red berries, and the mistletoe, and the Christmas rose, which assists at the 

 Christmas garland ; but wonderful is the change a few weeks have made, — 



" My very heart faints, and my whole soul grieves 

 At the moist, rich smell of the rotting leaves. 



And the breath 

 Of the fading edges of box beneath, and the year's last roso 

 Heavily hangs the broad sunflower 

 Over its grave ; the earth so chilly ; 

 Heavily hangs the hollyhock. 

 Heavily hangs the tiger-lily." 



§ 2.— Flower-Garden and Shrubbery, 



2175. Many amateurs are tempted to desert their gardens until brighter 

 prospects and more genial weather tempt them forth to their usual labours ; 

 whilst nothing more liberally rewards proper attention — nothing exacts a 

 severer penalty for neglect — than a garden. Those who would pay successful 

 homage at the shrine of floral beauty must emulate the chivalrous old knights 

 in self-denying continuous devotion. A week's cold indifference or studied 

 neglect may counteract the labours of years, and render nugatory most of our 

 future efforts to regain the smile of beauty. It should never be forgotten that 

 gardening differs from most pursuits in this — that it has to do with life ; and 

 whether vegetable life is sensitive or not, it resents everything like indignity, 

 or neglect, with as much determination and energy (if not so passionately 

 or suddenly) as if it were. Earth, air, and water ; — these, with the addition 

 of heat, constitute the raw material out of which the flowers weave their 

 beauty, the fruit its rich aroma and delicious flavour. Not only the pure air 

 and water, but both so impure as to be totally destructive to animal life, are 

 absorbed by plants and transformed by their vital and chemical forces into 

 colours of inimitable beauty, and sn-eet odours. Materials of similar che- 

 mical and physical qualities are moulded into every conceivable variety of 

 shape, and tinted with all the colours of the rainbow. Leaves of one uniform 

 texture throughout, are variegated, either regularly or capriciously, with red, 

 white, yellow, or green. Whether colour is a quality of bodies, or one parti- 

 cular part of leaf or flower is endowed with the marvellous power of reflecting 

 back only one particular coloured ray of light, the mystery is alike great and 

 past finding out, 



2176. Such sentiments as these impart a peculiar relish and sacredness to 



2 Y 2 



