116 THE CHRONICLES OF A GARDEN. 



I must admit that theory and practice are not at one ; for, 

 if both can be had, fruit and vegetables are a great addition 

 to the enjoyment of a garden ; if both cannot be had, then 

 let each choose for himself to which to give the preference ; 

 in either case, one is sure of a reward. The mere culture of 

 plants seems to me to bring its own enjoyment, and the suc- 

 cessful rearing of flower and fruit admits others to share in 

 the benefit ; for is it not one of the highest of our garden 

 pleasures, to have enough to share with those who are de- 

 barred from such simple luxuries 1 Above all, to have an 

 offering to send to the sick, — for truly one must have, at 

 some time or other, lived in a town, or been confined to a 

 sick-room, so as fully to know the value of fresh flowers, 

 or fruit, or even of the more homely basket of vegetables. 



Amongst the closing pleasures of autumn is to be 

 numbered the getting our bedded-out plants safely 

 lifted and secured in the greenhouse for next year's use. 

 The possession of even a small greenhouse is a source of 

 great winter enjoyment, and it enables us to keep through 

 that time most of the more tender, and all the half-hardy 

 })lants that make the garden gay in summer. Little heat 

 is necessary for these ; the fire need only be kindled in frost, 

 or now and then to dry the house, when damp (our great 

 winter enemy) threatens to kill our favourites. Those who 

 have not a greenhouse, may manage to keep the plants 

 alive in frames ; but these need to be attended to, both as 

 respects covering the glass in frost, and admitting air daily 

 in fine weather, and, somehow or other, this part of amateur 

 gardening seems generally apt to he neglected. 



