The Happy Garden 



an impish delight in thieving, I do not know. The 

 trouble is that they like them just a little unripe, 

 while I must have them in perfect condition. . . . 

 In such a situation, there is nothing to be done. 

 The trees might be netted, but that were cruel 

 to the trees, forcing them to take the veil, 

 and to such nunnishness I could never be a 

 party. 



It is hardly at all better with the apples and 

 pears. Hardly are they ripe than the birds peck 

 at them with their beaks, but then they are not 

 so voracious, and if they are allowed to glut them- 

 selves with the cherries they are not in a condition 

 to tackle all the larger fruit. 



There is a superstition that if the birds are 

 given water they will not touch fruit. It is non- 

 sense. The birds here have the bird-bath in the 

 courtyard, the vase on the lawn, the dog's drink- 

 ing bowl, the pond and the rivers, and several rain 

 tanks, and they are not a bit more honest for it ; 

 and they refuse to eat the insects and grubs and 

 caterpillars which give them a magnificent oppor- 

 tunity of justifying their existence. 



It is not altogether affectation to have the boles 

 of the trees dressed in 1 white. The first thought 

 was for effect : but the lime-wash certainly keeps 

 down many pests, and helps to destroy the 



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