12 APRIL 1940, Page 21

COUNTRY LIFE Epitomised Spring The late springs are the fairest

springs, and England today is more English than ever. Almost everything, except the earlier warblers and sand martins, have waited for April, birds and flowers, both. Some curious examples are seen in our gardens. The fragrant Guelder began to flower in December, but waited three months to continue. The early heaths, especially Carnea, and the fickle Iris Stylosa, now flowering splendidly, have delayed in the same manner. So in the wild, primrose, bluebell, wood anemone and even blackthorn will more or less coincide. April—in Browning's phrase—is twice April.