Part 43

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NOVEMBER 30TH. (St. Andrew's Day.)

On St. Andrew's the night is twice as long as the day.

Portugal.

DECEMBER

Ancient Cornish name: Miz-kavardine, following black month.

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Jewel for the month: Turquoise. Prosperity.

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Though now no more the musing ear Delights to listen to the breeze, That lingers o'er the green-wood shade, I love thee, Winter! well.

Sweet are the harmonies of Spring, Sweet is the Summer's evening gale, And sweet the autumnal winds that shake The many-colour'd grove.

And pleasant to the sober'd soul The silence of the wintry scene, When Nature shrouds herself, entranced In deep tranquillity.

Southey.

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December frost and January flood Never boded husbandman good.

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When there are three days cold, expect three days colder.

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OF GARDENS.

I do hold it, in the royal ordering of gardens, there ought to be gardens for all the months in the year, in which, severally, things of beauty may be then in season.

For December and January, and the latter part of November, you must take such things as are green all winter, holly, ivy, bays, juniper, cypress trees, yew, pines, fir trees, rosemary, lavender, periwinkle, the white, the purple, and the blue; germander, flags, orange trees, lemon trees, and myrtles, if they be stoved; and sweet marjoram, warm set.

Bacon.

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If frost do continue, take this for a law, The strawberries look to be covered with straw, Laid overly trim upon crotches and bows, And after uncovered, as weather allows. The gilliflower also, the skilful do know, Doth look to be covered in frost and in snow: The knot and the border, and rosemary gay, Do crave the like succour, for dying away.

Tusser.

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DECEMBER 5TH. (St. Nicholas's Eve.)

St. Nicholas, besides being the patron of children, was supposed to have provided marriage portions for portionless maidens.