THE LADIES' GARDEN —No. I. 



BY J. C. CLA.KKE, 

 Head Gardener at Cothelston House, Taunton. 



fHE main object of the series of papers I purpose to fur- 

 nish, under the above heading, is, to assist those who, for 

 the most part, superintend the management of their 

 own gardens. I shall not attempt to treat the subjects 

 on which I write in a sentimental manner. I prefer 

 rather the plain, practical way, having less desire to accomplish fine 

 writing than to be homely and useful. 



Having given these chapters the title of "The Ladies' Garden," 

 I must first say, I have no intention of speaking of the formation of 

 the garden ; it will serve my purpose best, and those for whom I 

 write, if we take the gardens as we find them, and see how we can 

 improve their condition without necessitating a heavy outlay at first, 

 or an annual expenditure afterwards. Now as nearly everybody 

 loves flowers, if they have a garden, of course they must have them, 

 and the majority of people I find are obliged to be content with the 

 fashionable bedding plants of the day ; not that they prefer their 

 brilliant colours to the more humble ones amongst the annuals, and 

 hardy herbaceous plants, but because with other kinds of plants they 

 have not had the success they hoped for, they therefore fall back 

 upon the bedding plants as the more certain measure for securing, 

 at least for a short period, a display of bloom. I admit, to the fullest 

 extent, the adaptability of bedding plants for such a purpose; but 

 I also happen to know that, however successful they may be in 

 creating an effect, they are never half so much admired and cared 

 for as those which the fair proprietors have succeeded in raising 

 themselves. Those who have witnessed the just pride, and well- 

 earned gratification of persons who have succeeded in doing so, will 

 at once admit that public writers, generally, have neglected a subject 

 which deserves all the attention that can be bestowed upon it. I 

 will, in the course of these remarks, endeavour to assist our lady 

 readers by plain and practical directions for the preparation of the 

 garden, and the selection of subjects which they may cultivate for 

 themselves, having in view, of course, to promote variety and 

 change in the aspects of the garden. 



The secret of success in growing such subjects as will be here- 

 after recommended, will depend, principally, upon the condition of 

 the beds or borders. This is a subject but little understood. It is 

 absolutely necessary that they be properly prepared, not merely 

 scratched over in the winter, as too many are, but really dug up in 

 the fullest sense of the word, to at least a depth of twelve inches ; 

 but twenty-four would be better. As very few herbaceous plants 

 are now grown, I have arranged for this chapter to appear with 

 the new year, because, as the winter is the best season for this work, 

 the reader may have ample time to get such work done before the 



