MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 31 



My mind has been turned to the sub 

 ject of fruit and shade trees in a gar 

 den. There are those who say that 

 trees shade the garden too much, and 

 interfere with the growth of the vege 

 tables. There may be something in this : 

 but when I go down the potato rows, the 

 rays of the sun glancing upon my shining 

 blade, the sweat pouring from my face, 

 I should be grateful for shade. What is 

 a garden for ? The pleasure of man. I 

 should take much more pleasure in a 

 shady garden, ^m I to be sacrificed, 

 broiled, roasted, for- the sake of the in 

 creased vigor of a few vegetables ? The 

 thing is perfectly absurd. If I were 

 rich, I think I would have my garden 

 covered with an awning, so that it 

 would be comfortable to work in it. It 

 might roll up and be removable, as the 

 great awning of the Roman Coliseum 

 was, not like the Boston one, which 



