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CHAPTER ONE 



JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 



IN THE 



SCENTED GARDEN 



Jljven 



in the early days of January deliciously scented 

 flowers are already in bloom. On my table is a wide 

 shallow bowl filled with damp moss, stuck with sprigs 

 of Chimonanthus fragrans, and my little writing-room is 

 filled with their fragrance. There is always something 

 fascinating in the appearance of delicate leafless branches 

 arrayed with flowers, and the flowers of C. fragrans 

 are peculiarly beautiful. Both the outer parchment- 

 coloured petals and the small inner petals, which are 

 maroon-coloured, are very thin in texture, but even at a 

 distance of two feet the outer petals have a thick wax-like 

 look, owing to the curious way in which they are curled 

 inwards and longitudinally. This wax-like appearance is 

 enhanced by the rich honeysuckle perfume. The tiny 

 maroon-coloured circle of inner petals, the yellow stamens, 

 the rough knobby surface of the pale fawn calyces and the 

 exquisite pale green of the branches combine to make this 

 Chinese treasure extraordinarily attractive. The grandi- 

 fiora variety has larger flowers, but they do not seem to 

 me so fragrant. The fresh honey-scent of the flower has 

 long since secured it its charming English name of ' Winter 

 sweet,' the leaves are also pleasantly scented, and perhaps 

 in time it will be as popular as it deserves. It can be grown 

 in the open border, but, naturally, it is usually given the 

 protection of a wall, as then the flowers are produced 

 c i 7 



