SEPTEMBER 97 



are too stiff and formal, only a little better than 

 zinnias, which I think quite ugly flowers; but by 

 beautiful asters I mean the Michaelmas daisies, the 

 glory of the autumnal garden, and very delightful for 

 their attractiveness to butterflies. A large plant of 

 the rich blue Aster amellus, covered with peacock 

 butterflies, is a common sight enough, but it is a sight 

 to be thankful for. And of all autumn flowers there is 

 none more beautiful than the white Japanese anemone, 

 which increases wonderfully with me, but of which one 

 cannot have too much ; for indeed I think there is no 

 more beautiful hardy flower, and none more useful, as 

 it lasts a long time in flower, and, when cut, will retain 

 its beauty in water almost longer than any other. 

 And among flowering shrubs, besides the roses, there is 

 the beautiful Abelia Chinensis from China, now a mass 

 of blossom from top to bottom, many varieties of the 

 Japanese privet, the Althceas or Hibiscus in many 

 colours, and some of the shrubby spiraeas. 



But I must leave, the flowers because I wish to speak 

 more particularly of what is to me a great interest in 

 September, and that is the fruits and seeds of the 

 garden. By fruits I do not so much mean the edible 

 fruits apples, pears, peaches, etc. but I mean what 

 botanists call fruits, i.e. the vessels containing the 

 seeds of any plant and the seeds themselves. In the 



