THE AMATEUR GARDEN 



neighbors' hired helps, we enroll in the main 

 branch of our competition only those who garden 

 for themselves and hire no labor. To such the 

 twenty-one prizes, ranging from two dollars and 

 a half up to fifteen dollars, are a strong incentive, 

 and by such the advice of visiting committees is 

 eagerly sought and followed. The public edu- 

 cative value of the movement is probably largest 

 under these limitations, for in this way we show 

 what beautiful results may be got on smallest 

 grounds and with the least outlay. Its private 

 educative value, too, is probably largest thus, 

 because thus we disseminate as a home delight a 

 practical knowledge of aesthetic principles among 

 those who may at any time find it expedient to 

 become wage-earning gardeners on the home 

 grounds of the well-to-do. 



The competing gardens being kept wholly 

 without hired labor, of course our constant ad- 

 vice to all contestants is to shun formal garden- 

 ing. It is a pity that in nearly all our cities and 

 towns the most notable examples of gardening 

 are found in the parks, boulevards, and ceme- 

 teries. By these flaring displays thousands of 

 modest cottagers who might easily provide, on 



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