Other beautiful, though common plants now be-
ginning to bloom are (Enothera Biennis, or Evening
Primrose, with its quantities of large yellow flowers, and
St. John's Wort (Hypericum), with its green foliage and
brilliant golden bloom. I wish that I had more of this,
but, fortunately, it is easily increased, and will grow in
any decent soil, even under the shade of trees.
Although they were done two years ago, I see that
the white paint is again flaking off the greenhouses,
which means that they must be attended to next
spring. I have made up my mind to use red oxide
paint in future — I think that is the name of it — as,
although its violent hue is not very pretty, it lasts much
longer, and these periodical paintings come expensive.
256 A GARDENER'S YEAR

A friend of mine has put up a number of greenhouses
in teak, which does not require painting, but that
splendid wood is a luxury for the rich man.
We are now having dishes of Broad Beans and
although they are still small, that does not make them
the worse eating. This is an unfashionable vegetable,
but to my mind one of the best that grows. Gardeners,
however, are apt to sow them in too large breadths,
with the result that they become big and hard before
they can be consumed, and that afterwards there are
none. For household consumption a few only should
be planted at a time, so as to prolong their season.
This day, the 14th, has been fine, with a cool wind,
and we took advantage of it to mow the lawns.
