COUNTRY LIFE
IN a paddock adjoining an old homestead in the Home Counties a great host of Lent lilies have flourished, perhaps for centuries. This 'year scarcely a flower is to be seen, and disappointment is great, since neigh- bouring paddocks are made of gold. The apparent reason is that stock were grazed in the paddock ; but this was not in daffodil time, not even when the leaves were vulnerable. How then were the plants killed? The theory is that daffodil bulbs, especially the wild sort, cannot endure strong manuring Like such a plant as Iris Stylosa, they like indifferently rich soil. I found this to be the case with some bulbs of Crown Imperial which by chance came into close contact with manure. The question has again been posed, whether the Lent Lily is a native flower or a stray. It is true that it is usually, but not always, found near houses, but may the reason be that the little enclosures near houses are as a rule ungrazed by stock, and heavy stocked grass fields. have proved as deadly almost as the plough? The wildest wild daffodils I ever saw were on the borders of Brecon, in places where they can scarcely have strayed from gardens.
A Bee Willow For those who adopt the pretty and ancient habit of planting sallows and willows in front of their bee house for the provision of early pollen, I would suggest that one of the best sorts to choose is Daphnoides. It " pussies," early in the year almost as the purple willow, is freer of pollen, and is a singularly lovely bush, in flower, in leaf and not least in the royal purple of its bark. In no other sort that I know are the silver and gold of the flower so well combined. Light pruning adds to its fertility and may ensure an agreeable shape. It is much more useful to the hive bees than that loveliest of ,all willows, now just approaching perfection, Salix Vitellina Pendular which is one of the special beauties of Hampton Court.
The Prosperous Labourer A discussion on the golden age (if such ever existed) of the agri- cultural labourer has been proceeding in The Countryman, and almost every week I read elsewhere lamentations for the glorious- past before enclosures of common land became general. I find it difkult to 'feel any agreement with the general view. If there is to be a comparison of metals, the only golden age of the labourer is today. He is much better off than he ever has been, so far as my reading goes. Doubtless much more might be done for him. If he had a bigger garden and room for a pig sty, the loss of common land would be unregretted..,.I would put the provision of bigger gardens at the very. head a desirable reforms.. The admirable and -.astonishingly successful schemes of the Land Settlement Association goes a long way to corroborate this view. The really astounding profits made by growing vegetables are evidence of the added pleasure and luxury to the labourer who can grow such food for his own household.
In My Garden Gardeners have. seldom in history been accorded more perfect weather . for their art, and almost every cottager has been working 'overtime to take advantage of the rare opportunity. It is a treat to see the gardens. The particular vegetable which the war has brought a greater popularity is the early shorthorn carrot, and it. can scarcely be -sown_ too. soon, at any rate if there is- any glass available in the shape of frame or cloche. This same weather has . hurried forWard the flowering shrubs. Two (on which I look from my desk) are Prunus Pissardii and P.,. Subhirtella Aututmialis, both .now in very full blossom. The first is indispensable, if only for its leaves ; and the second has this year insisted on flowering both in autumn and spring. On the subject of shrubs now is the best time for pruning, even severely, the tribe of Budclleias. It is a good idea=suggested in a little booklet, Calling -Cloche Gardeners, to. sow runner beans well before the standard date. No vegetable crops so fully, but its period may be shott instead of long" if frosts fall early. The dividends' from an early sowing under protection may be very on siderable. Much the same may be said in regard to both Sweet Corn (for which our American visitors have a strong desire) and for sun- flowers. Both need early growth for certain ripening ; but neither can face " the usual severity of spring " or the " blackthorn winter " without
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