48 GARDENS PAST AND PRESENT 



den ! At Kew many object-lessons of the kind 

 are presented in the earliest months of the year. 

 The winter-sweet (chimonanthus) is in full fra- 

 grance of its brownish-yellow flowers, so welcome 

 on a February day, when there is as yet only a 

 suspicion of spring in the air, and tree-buds are 

 scarcely daring to swell ; and it comes as a revela- 

 tion that it will succeed as a bush in the open 

 shrubbery without the protection of a wall. Else- 

 where witch-hazels (Hammamelis) are shining in 

 the bravery of flowers of twisted gold set on the 

 yet bare branches; and foolish bees, tempted out 

 too soon by a transient gleam of sunshine, are 

 humming weakly about the beds of pink winter 

 heath. The earliest rhododendrons are in flower, 

 a little battered, perhaps, unless the season has 

 been more than usually kind; and Japan quinces 

 are only waiting for a few warmer days to burst 

 their scarlet buds. The crimson twigs of the still 

 leafless dog-woods, the brilliant stems of the golden 

 and cardinal willows by the water side, the glossy 

 green of bamboos in their sheltered dell on a frosty 

 day, the orange berries of sea buckthorn or the 

 scarlet of spindle wood, the new species of early- 

 flowering iris and hellebore and fritillary all these 

 are to be seen on a winter's day. Such harbingers 

 of spring are rarely indeed to be met with in the 

 ordinary garden ; and many a one may well turn 

 homewards after a visit to Kew with a mind filled 

 with new suggestions. To one a bulb border with 

 the latest importations from Asia Minor may offer 

 the strongest attraction. To others the contents of 

 the glass houses will appeal with greater interest; 



