April Showers 



has many neighbours, and grows in the turf in a piece of 

 garden that has come to be known as the Lunatic Asylum, 

 for most of its occupants are cranks or eccentrics, showing 

 some departure from the normal habits or appearance of 

 their genus or species. I suppose this sensible Magnolia 

 is there as a keeper now. It went there at first because I 

 had an idea of collecting Japanese plants in this corner, 

 but it and some Cherries and Bamboos had no sooner got 

 established than the freaks were put under their protection, 

 and they have increased in number sufficiently to demand 

 a chapter to themselves. 



177 M 



