104 THE CHRONICLES OF A GARDEN. 



fruits, whether useful to man or merely ornamental, as ber- 

 ries, are beautiful in their contrast with the green leaves. 



" The mountain ash 

 No eye can overlook, when, 'mid a grove 

 Of yet unfadecl trees, she lifts her head, 

 Deck'd with autumnal berries that outshine 

 Spring's richest blossoms." 



In August, September, and the first part of October, 

 the garden is in full blow ; we scarcely seem to miss our 

 summer roses, and pinks, and honeysuckles, while their 

 places are supplied by the less fragrant but bright asters, 

 hollyhocks, dahlias, verbenas, late sown annuals, scarlet 

 geraniums, and other greenhouse favourites planted out in 

 the borders. 



One of the most beautiful of those early autumn flowers 

 is the gladiolus, either grown in a bed or in clumps : the 

 brightness and yet delicacy of its varied shades of colour, 

 and the length of time its noble spikes continue in flower, 

 unite to make it one of the most valuable additions to our 

 gardens. The roots of the finer varieties require to be 

 lifted before winter, and carefully guarded from frost; but 

 I remember reading an account of the management of 

 Gladiolus cardinalis in the gardens of Blairadam, where 

 it was stated that, after the bulbs or tubers had grown 

 to a large clump, they could be left in the ground all 

 winter. Like the dahlia, the roots of the gladiolus are 

 benefited by being started in spring in a hotbed, so as to 

 bring them into flower early in the season, as these flowers 

 are very susceptible to frost, and are apt to be cut off" in 



