X RIVERSIDE LETTERS 81 



ance in the spring ; none of these are ever 

 touched, but still the whole bed goes on from 

 year to year, and as far as I can see without 

 deterioration anywhere. 



In an adjoining garden, kept by a retired 

 engine driver, is a border still more crowded 

 than mine, roses, lilies, columbines, pansies, 

 Canterbury bells, and many other perennials, 

 are in the bed, and against the wall an apricot 

 tree, a peach, and a Marechal Neil rose. This 

 bed is never dug or touched with hoe or fork, 

 and is densely packed, but still the roses 

 bloom in perfection as do the white lilies and 

 all the other plants, whilst the crops of 

 peaches and apricots are simply splendid. 



It is but fair to state, however, that the 

 wall at the back of the bed is that of a malt 

 house, which has a furnace at work in it during 

 the winter ; that the aspect is due south, and 

 that the soapsuds, from the Mondays' wash 

 tubs, generally go on to it when the weather 

 is dry. 



On one side of my trellis of roses, where 



G 



