220 EARLY SUMMER 



trates, beneath staging which is draped with green 

 tissue-paper hangings, stand pails of water in readi- 

 ness to receive the flowers. In these are plunged 

 long-stemmed May-flowering tulips, parrot tulips 

 of many colours, erect white Madonna lilies and 

 carnations grown from our own cuttings, and 

 softly the tissue paper is raised to allow our friends 

 to obtain a glimpse of all the festive, brilliant 

 colour. " I often wish I could have been a gar- 

 dener," says the laundress regretfully, and cer- 

 tainly her own plants prove by their appearance 

 what a good home she gives them. 



The day of preparation dawns and we have been 

 kindly treated, for a soft, fresh wind without in- 

 tense heat is there to give courage to workers. At 

 four in the morning the garden is full of silent, 

 busy young women, each performing her allotted 

 task of packing, and by seven o'clock the first 

 detachment marches off, carrying heavy hampers, 

 boxes, and paper parcels to the station to catch 

 an early train. Other more important officials 

 go up later, and when, in the afternoon, I find my 

 way to Chelsea and visit our stall, it is evident 

 that hammer and nails have been at work, to say 

 nothing of the hands that have been busy arrang- 

 ing sprays of flowers in the vases that they may 

 look their best. The whole effect seems good, 

 and, although we cannot this year expend effort 

 upon ornamental garden-design work, it is pos- 

 sible by arranging radishes, lettuces, and other 

 vegetables among the flowers to give some idea of 

 what women can do to increase these supplies. 

 As I wander round looking at all the colour and 



