

CHAPTER VIII 



WORK IN THE OUTDOOR GARDEN 



We have seen what work in the greenhouse con- 

 sists of during the short, dark days of the year. 

 Let us now look at some operations that have been 

 going forward in the garden outside, bearing in 

 mind that during an exceptional winter like the 

 present there can be no fixed rules about work. 

 The drawbacks have been numerous, for after a 

 summer of drought, which increased the difficulties 

 of cultivation, we awoke in August to the fact that 

 the wars of nations were likely to enhance, for a 

 prolonged time, all personal troubles. During 

 those weeks, when the autumnal disorder of a 

 garden has to be overcome and deep digging is 

 required, our staff of men left in order to enlist. 

 There followed weeks of rain and boisterous gales, 

 when treading on the land or digging it does more 

 harm than good ; consequently the actual prepara- 

 tion of market-garden plots had to be postponed, 

 though other necessary work, that could be done 

 in bad weather, made exceptional progress. 



Pergolas and trellis arches were renewed so that 

 when the angry south-west wind, " all heavy- 

 winged with brine," came beating up the valley 



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