FOURTH WEEK IN NOVEMBER 



hundreds of large paper-white flowers centred with blotches 

 of golden brown and crimson. Light soil and a dry place 

 will also suit our native yellow broom (Cytisus scoparius), 

 too, which sows itself plentifully in such a situation, and 

 forms grand masses of golden yellow in May. The early 

 variety in pale primrose (C. praecox) is more dwarf, the 

 taller white variety (C. albus) being also very decorative. 

 C. Andreana is a remarkably handsome hybrid, with flowers 

 in crimson and gold, producing a rich effect of colour ; and 

 C. purpureus incarnatus is a trailing broom, with pink 

 flowers, which is an excellent plant for a dry sandy bank, as 

 it is of easy culture in such a place. 



Of the various daisy- trees (Olearia) the variety O. 

 Haastii is the hardiest ; O. Gunni (syn. Eurybia) is also a 

 robust and most floriferous plant, forming a dense bush 

 literally covered with daisies in June. O. nitida is one of 

 the finest of these shrubs, with large leaves and beautiful 

 sprays of daisy-like flowers in the early autumn ; it is not, 

 however, quite hardy, except in the south. 



Syringas (lilacs) of good varieties, Diervillas (syn. weigela), 

 and many other beautiful shrubs will grow in most soils and 

 positions, if carefully planted in a well-trenched border. 



The robins, which have been rather quarrelsome and 

 extremely busy in settling their positions in the garden for 

 the winter, have now definitely taken possession each of his 

 little domain, and woe be to any other robin which ventures 

 to trespass into his neighbour's ground. Only one of the 

 nestlings which were so extremely tame in the summer has 

 managed to hold his ground against the sharp beak of his 

 papa, which was freely used to drive them all to pastures 

 new ; but in the case of Rags (as we call this bird, in conse- 

 quence of the untidy state of his plumage at one time) a 

 strong determination to reside where biscuit is plentiful and 

 always to be found in winter has finally overcome the rough 

 usage he has endured, and he has obtained a footing in the 

 shrubbery, next door to his mother Ruby, whilst his irate 

 parent has retired to the nut bushes, which were his special 

 residence last winter ; for when once the young robin has 



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