136 An Old-fashioned Garden 



that I had, as I have had the summer long, 

 more birds than my neighbors ? 



How seldom do we see the coral honey- 

 suckle, and how generally the trumpet-creeper 

 has given place to exotic vines of far more 

 striking bloom, but, as will appear, of less 

 utility ! If the old-time vines that I have 

 mentioned bore less showy flowers, they had 

 at least the merit of attracting humming- 

 birds, that so grandly rounded out our com- 

 plement of summer birds. These feathered 

 fairies are not difficult to see, even though so 

 small, and, if so inclined, we can always 

 study them to great advantage. They be- 

 come quite tame, and in the old-fashioned 

 gardens were always a prominent feature by 

 reason of their numbers. They are not 

 forever on the wing, and when preening 

 their feathers let the sunshine fall upon them, 

 and we have emeralds and rubies that cost 

 nothing, but are none the less valuable be- 

 cause of this. In changing the botanical 

 features of our yards we have had but one 

 thought, gorgeous flowers ; but was it wise 

 to give no heed to the loss of birds as the 

 result ? I fancy there are many who would 

 turn with delight from formal clusters of 



