22 FROM A MIDDLESEX GARDEN 



February's flower, and one to be much appreciated in the days 

 of cold winds. The sunshine, growing more fitful showing 

 a world light and bright by turns, the surety of Spring's 

 nearness seems to search out and show to us their yellow 

 blossoms as if to compel one to admire them. And yet, if 

 one just reflects, the garden seems never to be bereft of 

 Nature's gold : when the last leaf of Autumn faded, the 

 Jasmine nudiflorum opened its yellow stars, that glittered 

 bravely and undimmed, no matter what weather ; and now, 

 at their passing away, the yellow aconites take their place. 

 What a golden chain of flowers will, link by link, encircle 

 the year in the months to follow ! crocus, daffodil, primrose 

 and buttercup, and many another blossom taking for tints the 

 whole gamut of gold. The author, in his recent book, "The 

 Chronicle of a Cornish Garden," says of the aconite : " Since 

 Christmas Day my Winter aconites have been sending up 

 experimental blooms. I like to watch the daily lengthening 

 for eight days of the yellow dome, one of whose functions is 

 to protect the ripe pollen from rain. As the short outer 

 row of stamens first ripens, the short sepals suffice for its 

 protection, but day after day, a larger and more central row 

 ripens and requires protection, and each day the sepals grow 

 larger to meet the new need. In spite of the pretty nectaries, 

 I do not think the bees will visit them at present. As most 

 of the early Spring flowers are produced from last year's 

 reserve store of nutriment, they commonly appear before the 

 leaves are well developed. They spend last year's savings, 

 and are able to cut a fine figure before most plants have 

 begun even to accumulate the wherewithal to produce flowers." 

 In " Days and Hours in a Garden," the author has praised so 

 well this period of the year : " The dear little Winter aconite, 

 each bud of pure, clear yellow, surrounded with its green frill 



