196 GARDENS PAST AND PRESENT 



life is surely beginning to spring anew in the 

 green things of the earth by the middle of Febru- 

 ary. Besides, it sets a reasonable date for the 

 incoming of the rest of the seasons as they follow. 



Spring spreads a carpet of tender, beautiful 

 colouring under our feet, and thus seems to fore- 

 show what should be our plan for the garden in 

 the early months of the year. We do not then 

 pine for rarity so much as plenty. The brown 

 earth has been bare for so long, we have so dili- 

 gently admired the tracery of the leafless boughs 

 through restful weeks, that we weary now to see 

 them clad once more in their fresh young green. 

 After the sombre neutral tints of winter, the eyes 

 crave for brightness and richer hues ; but, as if 

 it were better for us not to be ushered too sud- 

 denly into light and glory, pale harbingers come 

 to lead the way into more flowery paths. It is 

 a late season, indeed, if snowdrops are not hanging 

 their modest heads amongst their blue-green blades 

 by mid-February. 



Now, to enjoy snowdrops to the full, as we all 

 know, they should be naturalised. The verges of 

 a woodland walk, an old-fashioned wilderness, an 

 orchard where they can peep out of the grass 

 are ideal spots for them ; but a little thought will 

 generally suggest some vacant bank or hedge side 

 anywhere rather than a set border, which is 

 the last place to choose where they may be left 

 in peace to take possession, and reappear, like old 

 friends, year after year. Wherever a beginning is 

 made, with a view to establishing them, the plant- 

 ing should be done not later than September, in 



