-^ 



PASTIME FOR THE RICH 



249 



larges what you see. And your own eyes will 

 become as microscopes; you will see as an 

 artist sees, especially if you will rise early (five 

 is not too early) to see the glories of the sunrise 

 and clouds and listen to the glad song of the 

 birds. Your plants at that hour look refreshed 

 by sleep and dew; they radiate happiness which 

 you will find contagious. 



Before breakfast is the best time, too, to 

 work in the garden. In midsummer my day's 

 work in the sunshine ends at 8 A.M. 



I make up for early rising by taking a half- 

 hour Spanish siesta in the afternoon — a most 

 refreshing custom. This half hour seems to 

 equal two hours of night sleep. Why? I don't 

 know. Of course, if you are not strong you must 

 let your helpers do all the spading and hoeing, 

 but surprisingly soon you will find yourself 

 able to do some of the harder work, too. My 

 little nephew and I (he is just sixty years 

 younger than I am) do much of the potato 

 digging. It's as good fun as fishing. You never 

 know what's going to be at the other end of the 

 vine you pull out. 



Above all things, engage a head gardener who 

 realizes that "the flower's the thing." Land- 

 scape gardening and drives and pergolas and 

 shaded walks and summerhouses are all very 

 fine things, but they will not give you the full 

 benefits promised in this chapter through spend- 

 ing your days with the flowers and vegetables. 



