XV. 

 THE LAST MONK'S-HOOD SPIRE. 



HERE is little left to tell of the flower- 

 garden after mid-October ; its bright- 

 ness fades rapidly with the shortening 

 days. Glorious have been the great Japanese 

 anemones ; they are the life of the borders in 

 October, being to autumn what the daffodils are 

 to spring. Dahlias, salvias, and ageratums have 

 been struck by frost ; the anemones still linger, 

 white as the snow-flakes they herald. The 

 chrysanthemums are just appearing, among the 

 latest of autumn flowers, and we once more 

 touch our hat to China and Japan. For the 

 fading flowers we have the brilliant fruits and 

 berries, and the changing hues of the foliage. 

 On yonder upland grove I see nearly every shade 

 of red and yellow which the entire summer has 

 contributed to the flower-borders. The maple 

 would be held a sacred tree by the Orientals for 



