240

‘and’expand into leaf; a few, perhaps, would blossom ;

at any rate we hoped so, and thought it worth while
to try. We had once done so with the common lilac,
‘and been rewarded with a pale thin spray of flowers
right in the depth of winter: and that is a time, I
hardly need say, when one can appreciate flowers.
In summer life is so full and abundant that you
hardly mind one bunch of bloom.
If you wish to prove it for yourself about the lilac,
nothing is easier, but be sure you select the right

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sponge : ‘A WINTER GARDEN. ‘

she gave to “every boy aa girl” on. or way to

~ school, while her neighbor, Ma’am Allison, drove the

little feet away ; and the next year the bush of SS
who gave was full, while Mes

“Ma’am Allison’s tree had of blooms not one!
. The last year’s seeds were there.”

And then, how

i

“Dame Margery said, Ah! don’t you know
If last year’s blossoms stay,

 

 

ALL ALONG THROUGH THE WINTER AS WE HAD OPPORTUNITY.

ind of branch, for right ones there are. You would
not, of course, think of taking a new shoot, for you
will remember that you never saw a blossom on one
of those, but towards the end of the older branches.
Serves: beaut even knowing so much you may make a mistake
that will be fatal unless you understand that it is of
no use to try with a branch which has been allowed

_, to goto seed. Those buds contain leaves only; next
_ year there will be flowers there, but not this. Per-
sons who want a full bloom on their lilac bushes
every year, look out to break off the flowers. You
“know that poem about Dame Margery’s lilac — how

 

 

 

The next year’s buds will fail to grow
Till these are broken away ?

For this year’s lilacs cannot live
With seeds of last year’s’ spring.”

_ And so it was that

“Ma’am Allison Jearned that she must give,
If she would have a thing.”

‘

Perhaps Ma’am Allison also learned a lesson. ot
botany, as you have. :

Take, then, one of the two-forked branches (you
will know them at once) with those strong buds in _