CHAPTER XXX. 

 THE GARDEN AND THE SEASONS. 



IT may seem hardly necessary to include a chapter on 

 The Garden and the Seasons in this book as well as 

 " A Garden Calendar," but having already published a 

 series of articles on the subject I have been urged to include 

 them here. They were contributed during 1914 and 1915 

 to Amateur Gardening, and I wish to acknowledge 

 the kindness of Messrs W. H. & L. Collingridge, the 

 Proprietors and Publishers, in permitting me to reprint 

 them, with one or two small alterations. 



" SPRING IN THE GARDEN. 



" By the time this article can appear, spring, with all 

 its glories, will be well upon us, and I am tempted to write 

 a few notes on the season, in case they may be of interest. 



" My first remarks are on the happiness of spring. 

 Everything begins to wake up from its winter sleep, and 

 our border plants take new life and soon grow strongly. 

 The birds sing, the sky is clear, the days are warm and 

 sunny, and one feels what a good thing it is to be alive. 

 Ah, yes ! Spring is always a happy time, and the happiness 

 is such that worldly things cannot mar it. Joy is every- 

 where in the air in the spring-time. One cannot look at the 

 beauties which Nature daily unfolds to us without feeling 

 this. Many readers, no doubt, will be feeling the troubled 

 times brought about as a result from the war, but let them 

 take heart now the spring is coming on, and let them put 

 zest into their gardens, for a lovely garden can cheer many 

 dark hours. 



241 R 



