COTTAGE ORCHARD. 251 



ping stone over the rill, and beyond it is a gate 

 made of rough sticks, which leads to the cottage. 

 At a short distance, an excavation has been cut 

 out of the bank, and paved round with rough 

 stones, into which the water finds, and then 

 again makes its way, clear and sparkling. This 

 is the cottager's well. His garden is gay with 

 flowers. His bees are placed on each side of 

 a window surrounded with honeysuckles, jessa- 

 mine, or a flourishing vine, and the rustic porch is 

 covered with these or other creepers. Here, also, 

 the gorgeous hollyhock may be seen in perfection, 

 for it delights in the rich red soil of Devonshire. 

 Giant-stocks, carnations, and china-asters flourish 

 from the same cause ; and make the garden appear 

 as though it belonged to Flora herself. 



Nor must the little orchard be forgotten. The 

 apple trees slope with the hill, and in the Spring 

 are covered with a profusion of the most beautiful 

 blossom, and in the Autumn are generally weighed 

 down with their load of red fruit. Under them 

 may be seen a crop of potatoes, and in another 

 part of the garden those fine Paington cabbages, 

 one of the best vegetables of the county. In a 

 sheltered nook is the thatched pig-sty, partly con- 

 cealed by the round yellow-faced sunflower, which 

 serves both as a screen and as an ornament. The 

 mud or cob walls of the cottage, add to its pic- 



