178 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN 



OCTOBER 



Autumn mornings and robins Italian Daturas The useful ' Myti- 

 cuttah ' Nerines Three Cape greenhouse plants Sweet Chest- 

 nutsOther people's gardening difficulties Making new beds 

 The great Apple time French White Haricot The stewing of 

 chickens and game Ke-planting Violas and Saxifrages 'St. 

 Luke's summer ' Plants for August, September, and October 

 London gardens. 



October 1st. Once more we are back in the month when 

 the robin sings so much. The robins, I find, are the 

 tamest of all the birds in a garden ; and as we fork over 

 the beds, or dig new ones, they follow us all about, 

 enjoying much the newly turned-up earth. Almost the 

 prettiest lines in the ' Christian Year ' are about the Robin 

 Eedbreast, and were written by a friend of Keble's. I 

 wonder if the ' Christian Year ' is read now, and is as well 

 known as it used to be ? I will risk it, and recall the two 

 favourite little verses : 



TO THE EEDBREAST 



Unheard in summer's flaring ray, 



Pour forth thy notes, sweet singer, 

 Wooing the stillness of the autumn day ; 



Bid it a moment linger, 



Nor fly 

 Too soon from winter's scowling eye. 



