WHY should we talk of the sadness of Autumn ? of Autumn, 

 the hectic flush of nature before it dies ? Do we Colour in 

 talk of the sadness of sunset ? Nay, rather of its fas Borders 

 glory. And so in Autumn all nature flames in triumph before 

 it sinks peacefully into its Winter's sleep the sleep that is 

 rest, not death ; rest in which to renew its youth and its 

 strength, as sunset brings us nearer the sleep from which 

 we rise with renewed energy for the work of the new day. 

 In the garden Autumn is, indeed, the crowning glory of 

 the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and 

 care and toil. And at no season, save perhaps in Daffodil 

 time, do we get such superb colour effects as from August to 

 November. 



Our borders are now all ablaze with a hundred brilliant 

 flowers; and foremost in startling colour, more vivid even 

 than the Penstemons, are Begonias, the easiest grown of all 

 modern innovations. Whether we raise them from seed or 

 buy the seedlings, the kindly creatures increase in size with 

 surprising rapidity, and only ask to be kept in a little dry 

 sand or cocoanut fibre in some frost-proof corner for the Winter. 

 Much as one loves one's faithful Geraniums, it cannot be denied 

 that Begonias make a far finer show in the borders, while they 

 take a quarter of the trouble to grow and keep. But I rejoice 

 to think that nothing can take the place of our Geraniums for 

 certain purposes. For Begonias are useless for cutting; and 

 how could we dispense with the rich scarlets, the clear pinks, 

 and the delightful ivy leaf Geraniums ? Few things are prettier 

 or more satisfactory in the Autumn garden than the mixture 

 of white Paris Daisies with the pink Mme. Crausse, or the 

 vivid crimson Souv. de Charles Turner, whether in beds, or in 



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