14 THE GARDENING YEAR 



you will remark that, upon festive occasions, 

 promotion is hastened and the gilt epaulettes of an 

 admiral seem to shadow closely our friend of the 

 lower rank. I must not, however, forestall future 

 events that occur only in play-hours, and I must 

 ask you hurriedly to follow me to the precincts 

 where the serious work of a gardener's life is done. 



Our two offices, the latest additions here, are a 

 great joy to their owners, because formerly all 

 business had to be transacted either in my small 

 house or in a dark, somewhat freezing wooden 

 shed, which went by the name of office, but was 

 in its early days a damp and dreary room. 



On this particular morning, as the sun streams 

 in through the open windows and gives additional 

 colour to the big bowls of yellow and brown 

 chrysanthemums that are arranged between scarlet 

 leaves of sumach, the garden and its flowers seem 

 to welcome the new-comers. Indeed, we are glad 

 to find that there is a steady increase of students, 

 because the demand for them, when trained, is 

 great, and for some time past has been difficult to 

 satisfy. 



The door is wide open, and between the big 

 flower-pots of red fuchsias, that help to conceal a 

 portion of the high white chalk from which the 

 foundation of the house has been hewn, emerges 

 the slender figure of a little lad. 



" Please, miss, mother sends word I may work 

 for you each Saturday," says a shrill voice, and a 

 tiny hand goes up in really military fashion to 

 the round, brown cap to salute the new and awe- 

 inspiring chief. There is a note of keen excite- 



