OCTOBER 129 



among ornamental shrubs. Here it is a precious tiling 

 in t^e region where garden melts into copse. The 

 fruit-laden twigs are just now very attractive, and its 

 handsome leaves can never be passed without admira- 

 tion. Close to the Medlars is a happy intergrowth 

 of the wild Guelder -Rose, still bearing its brilliant 

 clusters, a strong-growing and far-clambering garden 

 form of Rosa arvensis, full of red hips, Sweetbriar, and 

 Holly — a happy tangle of red-fruited bushes, all looking 

 as if they were trying to prove, in friendly emulation, 

 which can make the bravest show of red-berried wild- 

 flung wreath, or bending spray, or stately spire ; while 

 at their foot the bright colour is repeated by the bend- 

 ing, berried heads of the wild Iris, opening Kke fantastic 

 dragons' mouths, and pouring out the red bead-like 

 seeds upon the ground ; and, as if to make the picture 

 still more complete, the leaves of the wild Strawberry 

 that cover the ground with a close carpet have also 

 turned to a crimson, and here and there to an almost 

 scarlet colour. 



During the year I make careful notes of any 

 trees or shrubs that will be wanted, either to come 

 from the nursery or to be transplanted within my 

 own ground, so as to plant them as early as possible. 

 Of the two extremes it is better to plant too early 

 than too late. I would rather plant deciduous trees 

 before the leaves are off than wait till after Christmas, 

 but of all planting times the best is from the middle 

 of October till the end of November, and the same 



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