78 
BRAMBLES AND BAY LEAVES. 
dark, crumbly, fertile mould, how it rolls over from the 
spade, smelling rich and earthy, and showing a promise 
of plenty as it falls into friable powder in the ridges ! 
Look at the well-dressed border, when hoed over for the 
last time, ready for the seed that is to be committed to 
it; it is nothing to a passer-by, but its neat, swelling 
outline gives a pleasure to the gardener's eye that is not 
of the moment, but one of future promise! Then, with 
what faith is the seed committed to the earth; a few 
grains as fine as dust thrown by the skilful hand, and 
left to the care of the elements, in the full assurance that 
Nature will do her best to reward the husbandman ! 
Then there is the daily observation of the growth of 
things, whether they be the commonest kitchen crops, 
or the choicest flowering exotics, how we rejoice to see a 
bud break here, or a shoot start there, or, on a sudden, 
and as it were in a single night, a potted plant sends up 
from every joint its bold trusses that are to cover it with 
glory, and prove before the world that patience and skill 
spent on worthy objects, are sure to bring their good 
rewards. 
However refined may be the pleasures attendant on the 
culture of flowers, and the production of scenic effects in 
ornamental gardening, a few rows of well-grown edibles 
have special charms for most people. What can be more 
jolly in appearance than a well-stocked kitchen garden 
in autumn, when the potato ground has been cleared 
and planted, when many of the summer crops still linger 
to say “ good bye," the bowery “ runners " still holding 
their blooms, and weighing their sticks down with thou¬ 
sands of tender pods; the kale, and broccoli, and winter 
