"To think what artistic and scientific gardening might be* 

 come . * * No occupation is healthier; none is fuller 



of variety and interest*** x/r -, 



MORTIMER COLLINS. 



DECEMBER 



TV/TID-DECEMBER and the last leaf has fallen, but how 

 ^ many of us are there who notice the pleasures to be 

 found in the leafless woods, while Winter passes with its short 

 days ? "The pleasures of the pathless woods" we all acknow- 

 ledged in the depth of Summer-time, when we trod the moss- 

 carpeted path between the low-hanging branches of the trees. 

 If one could describe the countless delicate pictures of Winter- 

 time : here upon an arch of the leafless hedge, hidden by no 

 leaf, a robin sits and pours forth a melody to the silent land. 

 The wintry meadows and fields are one monotint of grey ; 

 tree-trunks are encrusted with silver lichens ; and feeding 

 together on the short grass of the face of the fields are snow- 

 white swans, having left the leaf-filled water of the lake, and 

 the black crows, discarding the fallow lands. 



If my garden is empty of blossoms, it is not utterly devoid 

 of pleasure, for half the enjoyment of a garden is the constant 

 exercise of the imagination : one is always living three or, 

 indeed, six months hence. As we plant our bulbs we can 

 conjure up visions of hyacinths and crocus open to the New 

 Year's light, and in the depths of its desolation picture the 

 treasure of roses that June will bring ! 



299 



