CHAPTER XIV 



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Good collections rare Rhododendrons Azaleas 

 Brooms and Gorses. 



DURING the last fortnight in April and the first fort- 

 night in May there is something of a lull in the flower- 

 ing plants. The pioneers of the year the Christmas 

 roses, the snowdrops, and crocuses have quite passed 

 away, and the daffodils, fritillaries, tulips, and hya- 

 cinths are fast following them, while the great army 

 that will soon appear of paeonies, irises, roses, and lilies 

 has not yet come into sight ; and in gardens that trust 

 to bedding-out plants there is nothing to be seen but 

 bare earth in empty beds. Outside the garden the 

 case is very different. In every wood and hedgerow 

 that great outburst of life has begun in all its strength 

 and exuberance which has given to May its many 

 epithets ' the merry month of May,' 'all-beauteous 

 May,' 'faire May, the fayrest mayd on ground,' and 

 many such, all testifying to the joy that comes to us 



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