74 RIVERSIDE LETTERS IX 



Sundays and the late hours of evening are 

 the only times on which the real owner can 

 enjoy his possessions in peace. 



I have to do this tying up and weeding 

 mostly myself, and my hands are hardly ever 

 without scores and scratches from the thorns. 

 Still it is better so, and after all it is astonish- 

 ing how little needs really to be done. Roses 

 of all things resent interference, and it is 

 wonderful how well they do when left alone. 

 Of course if large show specimens are wanted 

 pruning is essential, but these are gained by 

 the loss of all glory of growth. I have a 

 hardy climbing rose that has grown up into a 

 tall fir tree, covering it with its bloom, which 

 has a charming effect as seen from the upper 

 windows of the house. An unpruned rose- 

 bush may look, to some, untidy, but the 

 number of blooms more than compensates 

 for everything. 



