THE RECTORY GARDEN 259 



Against the south wall of the house which 

 looks on the dear " Study Garden," a Mag- 

 nolia, M. grandiflora, was trained, filling the 

 air and all the rooms with its fragrance. It 

 still lives ; and has, I hope, lately taken a 

 new lease of life : but having for some years 

 been used by rats as a ladder to the window 

 of an upper room, it was in a sad state six 

 years ago ; and only the utmost care has 

 saved it from utter destruction. Lonicera 

 flexuosa^ Clematis montana, Wistaria^ Gloire de 

 Dijon and Ayrshire Roses, with a fine varie- 

 gated Ivy, hid the wall in a veil of verdure 

 and sweetness. The great treasure of the 

 Study Garden was alas ! it is no more 

 an immense plant of the Japanese Honey- 

 suckle, L. reticulata aurea^ trained over an 

 iron umbrella in front of the study window. 

 This was given to my father by Mr. Standish, 

 when only a tiny pot plant with six leaves, 

 a year and more before it was distributed to 

 the public. Well do I remember his delight 

 at bringing it home after a visit to Sir James 

 Clark at Bagshot Park. And carefully the 



