Autumnal Energy
We have, of course, as often in October, enjoyed what is called good growing weather. The milk-yields of cows have increased, .not diminished ; and the mowing machines have been kept busy on lawns and greens. One of the special arts of good farming is so to time ploughing and subsequent harrowing as to, persuade as many weed-seeds as possible to germinate not in spring but in autumn ; and so to* be destroyed by Ugricultural machines ' and winter weather. Some liatches of tilth ploughed 'early are now almost as green as a lawn. You would say that every spilt seed has germinated ; and the land will in the sequel be that much cleaner for their abundance ; and indeed richer, for their value as green manure must not be altogether despised. Even flowers have yielded to the seduction of an April-like October, a 'spring-like • autumn. I suppose that in every garden the aubretia has resumed • its blossoming ; and in mine the winter jasmine begins to flower long before its due date. A peculiarly free flowerer at the moment is that odd and humble plant, clematis davidii, with its blue flowers -suggestive at a cursory glance of the bluebell ; and the wild harebells still blossom freely amongst the seeded ling, as the rose-bay willowherb among the now seedless whims.
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