GARDEN OF A COMMUTER'S WIFE 313 



one always expects to see a moth or butterfly emerge, 

 are ripening at the bottom of the stalk, and sending 

 forth a fusilade of brown shot. These balsams, 

 though rather unpickable flowers, have been a two 

 months' glory, from their solid quality and the beau- 

 tiful colours of the spurred blossoms. No annual 

 more perfectly displays the so-called pastel tints, 

 peachblow, lilac, mauve, ivory white, pale salmon, 

 in addition to vivid crimsons, scarlet, and many 

 vivid and spotted hybrids. 



Alas for my bed of novelties from the "Yellow 

 Journal " catalogue ! Not only did it become merely 

 a mass of miscellaneous wreckage even before Au- 

 gust ended, but so sodden and water-soaked that I 

 had to have the debris removed with a garden fork, 

 and Bertie has now thoroughly worked over the 

 ground for the first planting of Shirley poppies. 

 Those sown in early September make sturdy tufts 

 before frost, and in spring, bloom three weeks ear- 

 lier than those from the October-sown seed that 

 does not germinate until April. 



Father and Evan have taken their vacations 

 during the past three months by daily install- 

 ments, thus making the most of opportunity and 

 fine weather. Evan has made many little garden 

 improvements ; for to him as well as father, vacation 



