Collected works > Edinburgh edition, 1894-98 - Works of Robert Louis Stevenson > Volume 1, 1894 - Miscellanies, Volume I

AN OLD SCOTS GARDENER
was such that cabbages were found invading the
flower-plots, and an outpost of savoys was once
discovered in the centre of the lawn. He would
prelect over some thriving plant with wonderful
enthusiasm, piling reminiscence on reminiscence of
former and perhaps yet finer specimens. Yet even
then he did not let the credit leave himself He had,
indeed, raised 'fine7^ o' them ' ; but it seemed that no
one else had been favoured with a like success. All
other gardeners, in fact, were mere foils to his own
superior attainments ; and he would recount, with
perfect soberness of voice and visage, how so-and-so
had wondered, and such another could scarcely give
credit to his eyes. Nor was it with his rivals only
that he parted praise and blame. If you remarked
how well a plant was looking, he would gravely
touch his hat and thank you with solemn unction ;
all credit in the matter falling to him. If, on the
other hand, you called his attention to some back-
going vegetable, he would quote Scripture: 'Paul
may plant, and Apollos may water \ aU blame being
left to Providence, on the score of deficient rain or
untimely frosts.
There was one thing in the garden that shared his
preference with his favourite cabbages and rhubarb,
and that other was the bee-hive. Their sound, their
industry, perhaps their sweet product also, had taken
hold of his imagination and heart, whether by way of
memory or no I cannot say, although perhaps the
bees too were linked to him by some recollection of
Manor braes and his country childhood. Neverthe-
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