HO HO HOE

Press, 29 May 1978, Page 22

HO HO HOE

The topic at morning tea break wasj sections and gardens. Chariie men-; tioned that he had bought a rotary hoej at a cost of $3OO, and a wrought iron! arch for his driveway which was) worth more than $lOO. “Surely you don’t need a rotary hoe! just for you own garden” said one of! his mates. “It does a great job, and its made: my garden lovely” replied Charlie. “A) few weeds . survived the first attack,) but its beautiful now” he. added. “Is your $lOO archway worth its! cost?” they asked. “With the roses climbing over it, it really sets off my driveway,” said Chairle. Various others boasted about the diameter of their cabbages, the length of their beans, the weight of their pumpkins, bit it appeared that ; Charlie with his large outlay on mach- j inery and archway was the topdog gardener. Some weeks later one of the boys 11 found that he was drawn to play bowls in the distant suburb, an area-i where Charlie resided. At lunch time on the bowling green he discovered ; that Charlie’s residence was nearby. The opportunity to inspect a model I garden proved impossible to resist, so (

■he strolled around the corner to in- ) spect the horticultural display .The i front of the section proved to be negi lected and untidy. The archway was [ here but completely innocent of any form of vegetation. All the effort must ishowaround the back, he thought. He knocked on the door and a lady ) answered. “I’m one of Carhlie's workmates” he explained, "and I’ve come ito have a look at. his garden.” The lady’s eyebrows went up. "His what?” she asked, as loud feminine laughter came from indoors. With a stern but knowing look she said, “Go on, pop round the back and have a look.” Around he went and was confronted ) with a collection of weeds, grass and rubbish several feet high extending the full width of the section. Against the back fence a couple of runner beans had risen above the jungle. On his way out he met two ladies. “He told us at work he had a new'; rotary hoe,” he said. “Oh yes, that’s true, it's sitting in the shed,” they answered. “I’ll mention this garden to the boys! at -work” he concluded. “Don’t worry” they said, “it's going! to be mentioned around here when Charlie gets home.”