PARSONAGE GARDENS AD CLERUM 297 



sense, and quiet humour, and the cultural directions 

 are admirable. I mention it more particularly here 

 because throughout the book the clergyman is never 

 lost sight of, and though written for Scotch ministers 

 and Scotch manses, it is equally suitable for English 

 country parsons and country 'parsonages. The one 

 chapter on ' The Minister's Boy,' which concludes the 

 book, will come home to many an English country parson. 

 There are many passages which I should like to extract 

 showing the pleasant humour and practical character of 

 the book, but I must content myself with one in his 

 more serious strain, as having a closer reference to 

 my subject, and showing something of the ministerial 

 aspect of the book : 



'You will find iii the very nature of the work a new 

 interest communicated to your life, and which, relieving the 

 pressure of cares and lightening the burden of toil, will tend 

 to no worldliness of spirit. Thus conferring as well as receiv- 

 ing good, and incurring no evil, let our gardens and every 

 corner of our glebes be adorned ; and if we have to lament, 

 on the part of those having large possessions, that too little is 

 done, let us at least set an example, though it be but in the 

 model style, and have our home a paradise of fruit and 

 flowers, of shelter and shade, endeavouring still to make the 

 place the more worthy of ourselves, and ourselves more 

 worthy of the place.' 



One point must not be left unnoticed. It seems 

 almost unnatural for a country clergyman to be with- 



