Pot-pourri from a Surrey garden

many things again. I confess I like these sudden deaths in Nature. When the time comes, it is better that things should go, than linger on, as.they do in very mild autumns. Never since I have lived here have the berries of the Pyracanthus and Holly been so fine; the latter are covered with berries. In old days they used to say it meant a cold winter and a providential providing of food for the birds. Now we say it means a fine spring and a wet autumn, which is just what we have had this year ; but a wet autumn may mean a cold winter. November 9th. — One or two hardy Bamboos should be in all gardens, because of their appearance just now, apart from all other reasons. The ' English Flower Garden ' gives the best kinds, which must be selected according to the size of the garden and the situation in which they are to be placed. They by no means require to be planted in wet places — in fact, I imagine it is that which kills them in winter — but a few cans of water daily in dry weather, at their quick-growing time of May and June, helps them very much to throw off sooner that shabby appearance in spring which is one of their draw- backs. Another drawback is that they live such a short time in water after they are picked. The Japanese have many devices for preserving them ; the simplest of these is burning their ends in the fire before putting them into water. This answers with many flowers. In a small garden, Bamboos look much better for thinning out every year ; and the long canes make very useful, tidy sticks for pot-plants. At this time of year, when all else is dying or dead, they are healthfully and luxuriantly green. I have found by experience that, if Bamboos are really injured by frost, it is best to cut them down entirely the following spring. It requires some courage to cut out the tall, well-grown canes ; but, once nipped by frost, they do not recover, and they make better plants the following year if cut right back. NOVEMBER 205 It is well worth while for anyone walking round the kitchen garden in November to pick the few remaining frost-bitten pods of the Scarlet Eunners. When gathered and opened, what a treat of colour they display ! — recalling wet shells on the seashore, mottled and marked, and of a rich deep purple, and no two alike. I grow Scarlet Runners singly, or two or three together, between the Apple-trees ; and it is a good plan, as they bear much better than when planted in rows in the open, and look much prettier. They creep up into the branches of the Apple-trees ; the growth is so light it does no harm, while it protects the late pods from frost.