In My Vicarage Garden 



without its use to the plants that have been badly 

 injured by the winter and are making a struggle 

 for life. The old proverb says — 



" There is no debt paid so nigh 

 As the wet pays to the dry ; " 



and taking the twelve months ending the 31st of 

 March there is a debt of twelve inches of rain. 

 But all this is uncertain ; and does not this very 

 uncertainty form one of the chief pleasures of gar- 

 dening ? It would be tame work if it was always 

 successful and if we could have it all our own way. 

 And is it not our uncertain and much-abused 

 English climate, with all the difficulties and dis- 

 appointments that it brings with it, which has 

 made our English and Scotch gardeners among 

 the very best in the world ? 



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