22 OCTOBER 1932, Page 13

OUR BARE AUTUMNS.

In the fields as in the gardens the season has produced some prodigies. We found, for example, a 'willow in flower. The so-called " pussy " bud was well out of its case. The par- ticular species (salix pen landra) is always an irrepressible grower, but does not often mistake autumn for spring. This likeness of autumn to spring is what especially distin- guishes the English year. The " Indian summer " of North America—not least of Newfoundland where I know it best— is more gorgeous than in England, chiefly from the coloured leaf, but also from the profusion of such flowers as golden rod ; but you do not find the general energy of growth in seed, in root, or in shoot that belongs to a good English October. I suppose with us many more seeds germinate