SEEDS 



I took the upward path that led to rising ground 

 and, passing through the hazel copse that flanked the 

 limestone bank, I found the dusky purple bells 

 of flowering Belladonna, while from the self-same 

 earth the young nuts filled their soft green 

 shells with snow-white pith, already show- 

 ing signs of tender kernel. 



I climbed still higher to where the 

 fibrous soil lay deep upon the igneous 

 rock ; a hillside squatter's garden plot 

 held within its straggling elder fence a patch 

 of fine potatoes and silver-green cabbage, but 

 from the untrimmed fence by the garden path 

 a hundred giant spikes of lovely foxgloves waved 

 in stately beauty, masking the death they held within. 



How many a similar problem lies hidden locked YOUNG 



> HAZEL NUTS 



in Nature's casket ! Broadcasting her seed, in what- 

 ever aspect and soil it may chance to fall, she produces 

 therefrom unlimited variety, for the use and need of 

 man, working as ever with schemes of supreme beauty, 

 and we seek in vain for material out of which to file 

 a key, whose wards will unlock her mysteries, and 

 reveal the inner secrets of her wonder working. 



55 



