4 IN A CHESHIRE GARDEN 



weeds. (I noticed that those with a northern 

 aspect suffered least.) The shoots and buds 

 of roses were scorched, and the young leaves 

 of most trees and shrubs. Hollies suffered 

 especially, but even yew and rhododendron, 

 oak, sycamore, and chestnut did not escape. 

 The only tree that weathered the cold with 

 impunity was the hawthorn, the tenderest 

 leaves and tips of which were not injured. 

 (This was not the case though in the severe 

 frost of Easter 1903.) Royal, male, and 

 lady ferns were shrivelled up to a greater or 

 less degree, but parsley and oak fern were 

 unharmed. 



We miss one gardener's friend here, but 

 we escape the attentions of one enemy. 

 Though frogs are common enough, toads are 

 very rare. I remember to have seen only 

 one during all the many years I have known 

 the garden. On the other hand, whilst I 

 have a dim recollection of having once found 

 an old snail-shell, I cannot say for certain 

 that I have ever seen a snail, though of 

 shell-less slugs in all sizes there is no scarcity. 



