Stray Leaves from a Border Garden 
suppose, on the principle of purifying the air and smother- 
ing the Bacilli. Cedar-dust is often burnt nowadays to 
vanquish an evil smell. 
August 21. — There are a number of splendid Lilies out 
now, Harrisi and gorgeous speckled Auratums. There is a 
delightful Roumanian superstition that the Plague cannot 
enter any house where there are Lilies in the garden, and a 
Wallachian tradition declares that the Water-lily will be 
made guardian at the Gate of Paradise on the Judg- 
ment Day, and there judge all the other flowers, deciding 
which may enter and which are to remain in outer dark- 
ness. It is curious that there have been found in 
mummy explorations in Egypt flower-wreaths, dating 
about the first century b.c., made of Water-lilies. The 
Water-lily was the emblem of purity, and it is said the 
name Susan comes from the ancient name of the Water- 
lily, Seshen. 
It is gloriously bright and beautiful, and hot, but dry, which 
is telling on the garden. All the flowers, and vegetables too, 
seem to run up and go off quickly, as they did in Jamaica. 
The birds, those graceless thieves, are sampling the Apples, 
so we are making jelly and jam of them. Apple-water, I 
have heard, is nice, but do not know how to set about 
making it. I heard of two mysterious American dishes the 
other day — an Apple-slump and a Pan-dowdy ! I wonder 
how they are made ! I fancy something in the nature of an 
Apple-charlotte. Here is an old receipt for Clear Pipin- 
jelly, as followed by our ancestors 200 years ago : “ Take 
14 good Pipins, and throw them into cold water, 
set them on the Fire till they are dissolved, then strain 
them, and to a Mutchkin of it put a Pound of double refined 
Sugar : let it boil very fast, and keep it clean skimmed ; 
then put in it the Juice of 2 Large Lemons as it is boiling, 
try it on a Plate, and when you find it jellies, it is Enough. 
You may put a Chopin of Water in it.” (A mutchkin is 
equal to an English pint; 1 chopin =1 quart,) Another 
recipe advises that rose-water be added; rowan- berries 
mixed with apples give a fine colour to Apple-jelly. 
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