The Lakeside Scene When the weeds begin to die on
the lake, as they do at the end of September, the fish seek deeper water. The shallows are no longer warm and rich in food. By about the same time the latest of the wild duck broods will have become strong on the wing and no longer flappers trying to take off in panic, they will rise with the older and more wily birds that burst from the reeds and sweep away up over the skyline with an occasional hoarse call. On my favourite lake, where summer is short because of its exposed position, the weeds seem to be dying already. The reeds sigh with the breeze and rustle sadly. The duck broods were all late and one disturbs flappers in the reeds but few mature birds rise because the main movement of wild duck is not set in a pattern while there is lying corn and all sorts .of food in un- expected places.
Something to be remembered in late September is the blanching of endives.. A flower pot is as good as anything. The drainage hole can be covered with a pebble to keep out the light that makes the endive bitter.
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