178 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN 



OGTOBEB 



Autumn mornings and robins — Italian Daturas — The useful ' Myti- 

 euttah ' — Nerlnes — Three Cape greenhouse plants — Sweet CHiest- 

 nuts — Other people's gardening difficulties — Making new beds — 

 The great Apple time — French White Haricot — The stewing of 

 chickens and game — Ee-planting Violas and Saxifrages — ' St. 

 Luke's summer ' — Plants for August, September, and October — 

 London gardens. 



October 1st. — Once more we are back in the month when 

 the robin sings so much. The robins, I find, are the 

 tamest of all the birds in a garden ; and as we fork over 

 the beds, or dig new ones, they follow us all about, 

 enjoying much the newly turned-up earth. Almost the 

 prettiest Lines in the ' Christian Tear ' are about the Eobin 

 Eedbreast, and were written by a friend of Keble's. I 

 wonder if the ' Christian Year ' is read now, and is as well 

 known as it used to be ? I will risk it, and recall the two 

 favourite Uttle verses : — 



TO THE BEDBBEAST 



Unheard in summer's flaring ray, 



Pour forth thy notes, sweet singer, 

 Wooing the stillness of the autumn day ; 



Bid it a moment linger, 

 Nor fly 

 Too soon from winter's scowling eye. 



