WHAT I KNOW ABOUT GARDENING. 115 



FOURTEENTH WEEK. 



IN these golden latter August days, Na- 

 ture has come to a serene equilibrium. Hav- 

 ing flowered and fruited, she is enjoying 

 herself. I can see how things are going : it 

 is a down-hill business after this ; but, for 

 the time being, it is like swinging in a ham- 

 mock, such a delicious air, such a grace- 

 ful repose ! I take off my hat as I stroll 

 into the garden and look about ; and it does 

 seem as if Nature had sounded a truce. I 

 did n't ask for it. I went out with a hoe ; 

 but the serene sweetness disarms me. Thrice 

 is he armed who has a long-handled hoe, 

 with a double blade. Yet to-day I am al- 

 most ashamed to appear in such a belligerent 

 fashion, with this terrible mitrailleuse of 

 gardening. 



The tomatoes are getting tired of ripen- 

 ing, and are beginning to go into a worth- 



