248 THE GARDEN, YOU, AND I 



extremely picturesque object in the landscape, but as 

 a water-producer as inadequate as the shaving-mug 

 with which the nervous gentleman, disturbed at his 

 morning task, rushed out to aid in extinguishing 

 a fire! 



Various predictions as to the weather for the month 

 have been lavished upon us, the first week having 

 produced but one passing shower. Amos Opie fore- 

 sees a muggy, rainless period. Larry declares for much 

 rain, as it rained at new moon and again at first quarter ; 

 but, as he says, as if to release himself from respon- 

 sibility, " That's the way we read it in Oireland, but 

 maybe, as this is t'other side of the warld, it's all the 

 other way round wid rain!" Barney was noncom- 

 mittal, but then his temperament is of the kind that 

 usually regrets whatever is. 



For three or four days we remained undecided, and 

 then The Man from Everywhere brought about a swift 

 decision for August transplanting, by the information 

 that the general clearing of the woodlands would be- 

 gin November first, the time for fulfilling the con- 

 tract having been shortened by six months at the final 

 settlement. 



We covet about fifty specimen pines and hemlocks 

 for the knoll and fully two hundred little hemlocks 



