CHAPTEE VII 



JUNE 



The gladness of June — The time of Eoses— Garden Roses — Eeine 

 Blanche — The old white Eose — Old garden Roses as standards 

 — Climbing and rambling Roses — Scotch Briars — Hybrid Per- 

 petuals a difficulty — Tea Roses — Pruning — Sweet Peas, 

 autumn sown — Elder- trees — Virginian Cowslip — Dividing 

 spring-blooming plants — Two best Mulleins — ^White French 

 Willow — Bracken. 



What is one to say about June — the time of perfect 

 young summer, tlie fulfilment of the promise of the 

 earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one 

 that its fresh young beauty will ever fade ? For my 

 own part I wander up into the wood and say, " June 

 is here — June is here ; thank God for lovely June ! " 

 The soft cooing of the wood-dove, the glad song of 

 many birds, the flitting of butterflies, the hum of all 

 the little winged people among the branches, the sweet 

 earth-scents — all seem to say the same, with an end- 

 less reiteration, never wearying because so gladsome. 

 It is the offering of the Hymn of Praise ! The lizards 

 run in and out of the heathy tufts in the hot sunshine, 

 and as the long day darkens the night-jar trolls out 

 his strange song, so welcome because it is the prelude 



77 ' 



