airt IFrufts of Autumn. 299 



only change old soil into new and transform an 

 inland climate into a climate of the sea-coast at 

 will, how much easier gardening would be ! But 

 even then there would be too much or too little 

 lime, or something else would be wanting, I sup- 

 pose " man never is, but always to be blest." 



Pope was a gardener, of course. That he 

 was passionately fond of gardening can not be 

 doubted in view of his statement, as given by 

 Walpole, that of all his works he was most proud 

 of his garden. He was a landscape-gardener 

 rather than a floriculturist, however, painting 

 with trees instead of flowers ; and when we look 

 over the great field of those artists whose canvas 

 was Nature herself, where shall we find one who 

 possessed the flowing, natural touch of Downing ? 



A wild garden, what Bacon termed his 

 " heath or desert, framed as much as may be to 

 a natural wildness," is a delightful feature of a 

 place. Here among autumnal flowers belong 

 many of the huge Heltanthece, Silphiums, large 

 starworts, and everlastings. There being no 

 formality, it does not matter so much if the 

 plants become overcrowded. The occasional 

 presence of golden-rod will scarcely prove an in- 

 trusion, and the wild rose, bitter-sweet, fire- 

 weed, and clematis may be allowed to roam at 

 will. Such a tangle should, of course, be placed 



