10 NOVEMBER 1944, Page 14

COUNTRY LIFE

THE day on which was signed the " weapon-still-stand " of the last war is often an armistice between autumn and winter. It is on record that in the midst of the war the thermometer rose as high as 61`.40 on November 11th. So far as my own memory goes I should say that "' St. Martin's Summer "—the last of the interpolated warm spells— is the most constant ; and the collapse after it very certain. It is held in one family where November 17 happens to be an anniversary that on this day the last of the elm leaves falls and the period of bare

boughs begins. It is strange how often the prophecy is fulfilled. It used to be said of the old Martinmas day, which fell a fortnight later, that if ducks swam then they would slide at Christmas.