THE EFFECT OF TREES 



not passed by as the rest, but being trodden upon and 

 crushed, are three, that is Burnet, Wild Thyme, and 

 Water Mints. Therefore, you are to set whole alleys 

 of them to have the pleasure when you walk or tread. 

 1 would add to these one or two more flowers whose 

 perfume is easily yielded. The Heliotrope, which at 

 night will scent a garden ; and Stocks, very rich and 

 sweet scented ; Tobacco Plant, a heavy sensuous smell ; 

 Madonna Lilies, seeming almost to breathe ; Evening 

 Primroses ; and, after rain when the sun is warm, the 

 leaves of Geraniums, a faint musky smell, very attrac- 

 tive. But of all these the garden holds one perfume 

 more delicious, a scent that, to me at least, is the Queen 

 of Garden scents since it is the breath of the whole garden 

 herself. After a Summer's day when it has been hot 

 and the lawn has been cut, and the Sun has well baked 

 the earth, if there should come rain in the evening, a 

 soft warm rain pattering at first so that it seems each 

 leaf of flower and tree becomes a drum sounding with 

 rain beats, then it seems the garden breathes deep and 

 draws in great draughts of the delicious coolness. Then 

 after the rain the night comes warm again, and all warm 

 earth smells, and the new cut grass smells also, and 

 every tree and flower join force upon force until the 

 air is filled with a perfume which for want of better 

 names I would call the Odour of Gratitude." 



Furthermore, Bacon speaks of the garden — " The 

 garden is best to be square, encompassed on all four 

 sides with a stately arched hedge." One rich hedge is 

 there at Bishopsbourne, which it is traditionally supposed 

 was planted by Richard Hooker, of whom Walton writes : 

 " It is a hedge oi over one hundred feet in length, from 

 twelve to fourteen feet in height, and some ten feet 

 thick. It is one of the finest Yew hedges in England, 

 a wonderfid colour, an amazing strength and beauti- 



165 



