258 MORE POT-POURRI 



Our reason tells us this is because nature has been 

 asleep, not dead. There is no mistake about the poor 

 really dead plants ; we know them too well. Early 

 spring here is not beautiful at all ; it is dry and 

 shrivelled and hard -looking, not like the neighbourhood 

 of my old home by the Hertfordshire millstream. 



The white Alyssum, the common Pulmonaria, and 

 the Wallflowers are all coming into flower. I feel more 

 and more sure that mixed borders ought not to be dug 

 up in autumn, as gardeners especially gardeners new 

 to a place are so fond of doing ; in that way half the 

 best things get lost. The best way is to replant, or 

 dig out large pieces and divide each plant if it wants 

 it after flowering and before they quite die down. The 

 white Alyssum and the Pulmonarias both do better 

 under the slight protection of shrubs than quite in the 

 open border, where the cold winds catch them. 



My two large old Camellias planted out last autumn, 

 well under a Holly, and facing north, are doing well, 

 and one has three bright rosy red blooms. It remains 

 to be seen how they will do next year. It is a pleasure 

 to think Camellias do better in London gardens than 

 almost any other evergreens, and only want well plant- 

 ing in peat and leaf-mould, and well syringing and 

 watering in the spring. But there also they must have 

 the protection of other shrubs, to hang over their tops 

 and keep off the spring frosts. 



A semi -double Azalea for the greenhouse, called 

 Deutsche Perle, was given me the other day, and is a 

 charming greenhouse plant. The flower has something 

 of the appearance of a Gardenia, but it has no scent. 



I have had two real good days' gardening, and have 

 tried to carry out some of Miss JekylPs hints, even in 

 this commonplace, every -day garden. I have pulled 

 down some of the climbing Roses, to let them make low- 



