242 JOTTINGS OF A GENTLEMAN GARDENER 



" Spring is such a lovely time, too, in the garden, and 

 especially in an orchard. Fruit trees when in blossom in 

 a large orchard make one think of Heaven. And the 

 flowers, too ! We have the Doronicums, the early Iris, 

 the Candytuft, the Arabis, the Aubrietia, a host of rock- 

 plants in bloom, not to speak of the bulbs, the Wallflowers, 

 and other ' bedded ' out flowers which adorn our beds in 

 the spring. 



" Some say they think that spring is the best time in the 

 whole year in the garden, but to me spring is a leading-up 

 from beautiful things to more beautiful things, and from 

 happy times to more happy times. To my mind, the 

 garden in summer is far nicer than the garden in spring, for 

 I cannot forget the many happy evenings I have spent 

 walking round amongst the flowers when the day's work 

 is done. Spring is a leading-up to the superlative height 

 of summer. Itself, it is only ' comparative.' 



" Spring is always a busy time in the garden, but it should 

 not be made ' too busy.' Amateurs should remember that 

 spring work means summer results. These results may 

 be good or bad. So take time over your work. Time 

 to think out properly what you are doing. I notice recently 

 many writers have given articles containing practical 

 suggestions for the planning and planting of summer beds 

 and borders to get good effects. While readers will do well 

 to try some of these, let them not forget to try a little 

 ' by themselves.' If they take sufficient time and care 

 in the positions of sowing or planting they will get good 

 effects. Hurried work never pays, for what is done in the 

 spring has usually to last all the summer. 



"So let not your spring be 'too busy.' Work at your 

 garden by all means, for there is nothing nicer, but think 

 when you work think how it will all look after a month 

 or two. Make the most of the spring, too, for its precious 

 hours soon slip by and are gone, and nothing is worse than 

 to find oneself with spring work still undone at the end of 

 May. I am not quite clear when summer is supposed to 

 begin, but when we get to the middle of April, or into the 



