

THE SWEET-SCENTED SHRUB. 



( Calycanthus praecox. ) 



This sweet-scented shrub is a winter- form, filling the garden throughout De- 

 bloomer. The warm days that we usu- cember with a delicate fragrance, 

 ally have in the South about Christmas The leaves, which are large, generally 

 time brings out the little yellow blossoms f a11 off bef or ? a sin £ le bu d opens, but 

 in profusion ^ blossom is so pretty and fragrant 



There are but few other out-door flow- ^ g we for g et the somewhat awkward 



ers in bloom at this season, except the c ' *■ 1 a j t. t. • 



r Sometimes a sleet finds our shrub m 



V1C JL, .". r 1 ^ , i , ^11 bloom, leaving it an exquisite pic- 



The blossoms of the Calycanthus, clus- tur6j every blossom in a crystal casing> 



termg in pairs all along the branch, are But we are glad when the sun lets out 



pale yellow, sessile and rosaceous in the imprisoned perfume. 



Jessie M. Cook. 



OCTOBER. 



Golden rod and thistle down 

 In the fields and all around, 



And a fragrance in the air, 

 And the fairy barks a-sailing, 



And the beauty everywhere 

 Hill and wood and valley vailing, 

 Like an angel's soft caress, 

 Fills the heart with loveliness. 

 And the present is a vision, 



And the past is but a dream; 

 And the deep soul laughs at wisdom 



That would have things somber seem. 

 Only joy the days contain, 



When life leads this happy round; 

 All the world sings one refrain, 



Golden rod and thistle down. 



— Stanford Conant. 



144 



