THE RECTORY GARDEN 261 



from the plough-tail and trained himself 

 constructed together. And owing to light soil, 

 and early and late frosts which were peculiarly 

 destructive owing to the low-lying situation of 

 the Rectory, none but the hardiest and most 

 common plants could be grown out of doors. 

 Yet despite these drawbacks the borders were 

 always as bright as those in more favoured 

 spots, filled with such plants as Phloxes, Del- 

 phiniums, Alyssums, Saxifrages, Pinks, Pansies, 

 and, above all, Roses and Carnations which 

 grew in profusion without the least trouble. 

 And perhaps the gayest moment of the Rec- 

 tory garden, was when every border round the 

 house was edged with a thick band of blue 

 Forget-me-not outside another of pink Silene, 

 so that the old mellow brick walls rose from 

 out of a lovely setting of pale blue and pink. 

 One bay on the front of the house was well 

 covered with Pyracantha, in which a pair of 

 white-throats built for many years undis- 

 turbed, just under my mother's window. The 

 farther bay, up to 1 8 60- 1, was quite covered by 

 a magnificent plant of the Noisette Rose, Jaune 



