THE CHARM OF GARDENS 



And this also : 



When the wind is in the south, 

 'Tis in the rain's mouth ; 

 When the wind is in the east 

 'Tis neither good for man nor beast. 



This weather lore is naturally gleaned out of many 

 years, some of the sayings being of real antiquity, 

 others, perhaps, newly coined, though I fancy not. In 

 spite of them you will find every gardener has a different 

 manner of reading the sky and the wind, some having 

 it that mares-tails in the sky come after great storms, 

 others that they are the portent of a x gale. Some, if 

 asked will reply to a question on the weather : 



" With these frostises o' nights, and the wind veered 

 roun' apint west, and taking into consideration the 

 time o' year, and the bad harvest" — then follows 

 a long look into the heavens — " I don't say but what 

 er won't rain, but then again, I dunno, perhaps come 

 the breeze keeps off, us mighten have quite a tidy drop." 

 This you are at liberty to translate which way you 

 choose, since the advice is generally followed by a 

 portentous wink, or, at least, some motion of an eyelid 

 curiously like it. 



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