My Garden in Spring 



latest buds bear only stigmas. Some seasons my plants 

 bear no female flowers until the pollen-bearing ones have 

 fallen, and then of course I get no oranges. They fruited 

 freely in 1911 after the hot summer, and I have raised a 

 nice row of babes from the pips. I should like to make 

 a hedge of them some day, as many of the spines are quite 

 3 inches long, and so stiff and sharp that the interlacing 

 boughs armed freely with these fierce weapons would be 

 worse than barbed wire, and not even a boy could get 

 through a close hedge of Aegle. Little sprays when cut 

 off are useful to discourage birds and fourfooted beasts. 

 A faithful old dog, who always thought he helped me to 

 garden by lying on cushions of plants, ruined a fine speci- 

 men of the white Erica carnea until I insinuated a chip or 

 two of Aegle in among its growth. Poor old Taffy ! how 

 he jumped the next time he tried that bed, and he never 

 attempted to lie on it again. Aegle has another charm in 

 its beautiful autumnal colouring ; in suitable seasons it 

 takes on a brilliant yellow, and the leaves remain on after 

 many other plants are bare. 



Some interesting hybrids were raised in America be- 

 tween Aegle and some edible Oranges, and three of these 

 intermediates have been fairly widely distributed. I have 

 got them here close to the New Wall, and they have 

 passed quite unhurt through the last three winters, but 

 though they have grown into good specimens, there has 

 been no sign of flowers yet, still I hope I may some day 

 eat marmalade made from these home-grown oranges. 

 The handsomest of them is called Colman, and has fine 

 broad leaves that look much like those of an ordinary 

 sweet Orange. Those on the younger growths are not 

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