52 ROSES FOR ENGLISH GARDENS 



given as a type of this kind of planting. Any one 

 who tried it and had enough garden sensibility to 

 feel its charm, and enough garden fervour to wish to 

 practise it in varied forms, would soon invent other 

 combinations. 



It would be easy to name many such desirable 

 m.ixtures, but it is more helpful to show one simple 

 thing that is easily understood, and that awakens 

 interest and enthusiasm, and to leave those wholesome 

 motive powers to do their own work, than it is to 

 prompt the learner at every step, fussing like an 

 anxious nurse, and doing for him, what, if his en- 

 thusiasm is true and deep and not mere idle froth, 

 will give him more pleasure in the doing, and more 

 profit in the learning, than if it were all done for him. 

 For the very essence of good gardening is the taking 

 of thought and trouble. No one can do good decora- 

 tive work who does it merely from a written recipe. 

 The use of such a book as this is to describe enough 

 to set the Rose pilgrim on his road, not to blindfold 

 him and lead him all the way by hand. 



