15 OCTOBER 1948, Page 14

COUNTRY LIFE

This autumn season is notable for the continuance of summer in many directions. Swallows were with us when October entered, and I saw more butterflies, especially Tortoiseshells, in October than in September. I picked a very large and excellent mushroom in October, and some flowering shrubs are now at their very best, including a deciduous and an evergreen viburnum. Harebells are still blooming on the common and scabious and poppy on the stubbles. The grass grows fast and freshly, to the especial benefit of the milch cows ; and many trees, notably the apples, are (most foolishly) putting out new shoots.