GA RDENING BY M YSELF. j qq 



and anemones dry away to powder ; all that 

 you cannot plant this fall, let a florist keep 

 for you till spring. If you cannot get 

 them, you will at least not lose your money. 



It is strange work to plant bulbs. Beau- 

 tiful work, but strange ; having a certain 

 weird significance and likeness to greater 

 things. Seeds are another matter. A few 

 days, a week or two at most, brings up 

 their fresh growth ; and even in this uncer- 

 tain world we do all look ahead so far as 

 that. It is the gentle time of year, too, 

 when everything is tending towards sun- 

 shine and blossom and fruit. They are but 

 spring ventures. But for our bulbs ! — Sum- 

 mer is behind them when they are planted, 

 and before them stretch the long, long win- 

 try months of ice and snow, — the months of 

 absent or tuneless birds, of half-hardy things 

 that are dying, and tender things that are 

 quite dead. The very year is fading when 

 they are laid for their quiet sleep. 



The seeds spring up and grow we know 

 not how ; so swiftly, so suddenly, with 



