WEEDS OF THE GARDEN. 



171 



and many more, a host of indistinguishable green things, which, I 

 suppose, have names. 



I can think of no more garden weeds, either pets or enemies, native 

 or imported, unless the various agarics that autumn brings may be so 

 called. They come in shadowy places under trees or in the shrubberies. 

 To me they are full of interest in their quiet way, endless in variety, 

 and some of them marvellously made. We cannot boast any grandly 

 coloured scarlet and orange species, but in their own varied shades of 

 brown or lilac the beauty of our autumn Toadstools cannot be 

 surpassed. 



One, like a large dark brown or chocolate Mushroom, was found four 

 years ago between the roots of a great Oak in a meadow near the garden 

 fence. This curious growth seemed something of a mystery, and was 

 despatched to me by post the day my gardener discovered it. 



It was then, and still remains, as hard as a bit of mahogany. It is 

 as if the spirit of the Oak and his substance had passed into the lowly 

 fungus at his feet. One might almost fancy some occult affinity, in the 

 broad Mushroom-like shape of the old Oak on which it grew. It is 

 said of the various kinds of fungus arboreus, that they have a venomous 

 faculty, and they of the Oak bring death. 



It might certainly seem that the garden where we have been wandering 

 is but " a dankish untoyled place," as old garden books would say, after 

 this long enumeration of its weeds and fungi. Yet I think the Horti- 

 cultural Society might find Huntercombe not so badly kept after all ! 

 It might even be a surprise to see there more flowers than Weeds. 



