CHAPTER XI 



OCTOBEK 



Michaelmas Daisies — Arranging and staking — Spindle -tree — 

 Autumn colour of Azaleas — Quinces — Medlars — Advantage of 

 early planting of shrubs — Careful planting — Pot-bound roots — 

 Cypress hedge — Planting in difficult places — Hardy flower 

 border — Lifting Dahlias — Dividing hardy plants — Dividing 

 tools — Plants difficult to divide — Periwinkles — Sternbergia— 

 Czar Violets — Deep cultivation for Lilimn giganteum. 



The early days of October bring with them the best 

 bloom of the Michaelmas Daisies, the many beautiful 

 garden kinds of the perennial Asters. They have, as 

 they well deserve to have, a garden to themselves. 

 Passing along the wide path in front of the big flower 

 border, and through the pergola that forms its con- 

 tinuation, with eye and brain full of rich, warm colour- 

 ing of flower and leaf, it is a delightful surprise to pass 

 through the pergola's last right-hand opening, and to 

 come suddenly upon the Michaelmas Daisy garden in 

 full beauty. Its clean, fresh, pure colouring, of pale 

 and dark lilac, strong purple, and pure white, among 

 masses of pale-green foliage, forms a contrast almost 

 startling after the warm colouring of nearly everything 

 else ; and the sight of a region where the flowers are 



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