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THE BLOSSOM CIRCLE OF THE YEAR 



Bamboo fittingly used in a Georgia garden 



defeated before we begin the fight. War to the death, however, 

 no quarter asked nor given, it must be. 



After a beautiful vacation last Summer, just when it seemed 

 as if it were going to be possible to sit down quietly and get some 

 writing and drawing done, the call to arms came and for twelve 

 consecutive weeks, between June and October, it was a daily 

 fight against every insect and fungus pest known to the flora of 

 the South — or so it seemed to be. 



It was necessary to arise at dawn, get the mixture ready and 

 spray, and spray, and spray again. In a small garden it is not 

 hard to keep ahead of the enemy, but usually there is a lack of 

 appliances which makes the work doubly hard and, truth to tell, 

 it is not easy when done with the best of help, with the most 

 carefully prepared mixtures, and the best spray pumps. Hard 

 or easy, it must be done. 



For several years each recurring Spring in the South brought 

 a very excessive and prolonged drought. This was followed by 

 a season of tropical rains, making the climatic conditions almost 

 those of two distinct, main seasons: a rainy one and a dry one. 

 The vegetation, stunted by the long, dry spell, began to grow 



