38 My New Zealand Garden 



enjoy, for we are seldom imprisoned by weather 

 for long. The winters are short, and enough 

 cannot be said in praise of our autumns, which 

 are long, glorious stretches of fine weather, which 

 launch us into winter in the most delightful 

 manner possible. I almost believe that this par- 

 ticular part has the pick of New Zealand climate, 

 but I may be prejudiced, for had I subdued sub- 

 soil in any other spot, I might have been equally 

 enamoured of it. 



Spring is the most windy time, when we 

 occasionally get an equinoctial gale, which is 

 terrific for want of a fiercer word. 



I am told that here wind does not travel more 

 than half the pace that it does in England. If 

 such be the case, I am surprised, and can only 

 imagine that it must be assisted by sleight of hand 

 tricks. 



One night, to our consternation, it tore every 

 gooseberry-bush out of the ground, and stacked 

 them in one corner of the garden. Of course, 

 this would not do ! It was plain that both top 

 and under shelter must be got up with all speed. 

 So high palings soon made their appearance, 

 whilst I sowed boxes of Blue-Gum seed. If I were 

 only told that those trees are now 80 feet high, I 

 could not believe it ; but there they are, a fine belt, 

 doing their duty well. I never heard of a Blue 

 Gum being blown down. I don't think such a 



