The Rescue of an Old Place 



What we 

 did to them. 



A box of 

 plants. 



that only strong methods would revive 

 them. 



We needed sods for the terraces we 

 were making, and so began by removing 

 the turf around the trees, leaving narrow 

 strips of grass to walk upon. This fur- 

 nished us with three wide beds, which we 

 fertilized heavily with rich compost and 

 wood-ashes, the surface being tilled with 

 great care, keeping the edge of the spade 

 turned toward the trunk to avoid cutting 

 off the rootlets of the trees. A memory 

 of an old garden in which I had played 

 when a child, where Pear-trees grew 

 among the flowers, induced me to think 

 of utilizing these broad fertile spaces for 

 perennials. The Pear-trees were at that 

 time doubtful as fruit-producers, but they 

 would afford a grateful shelter from the 

 hot sun when we were working among the 

 plants, and their sparse foliage would 

 hardly interfere greatly with the flowers. 



In the spring a generous friend sent me 

 a box of hardy plants, which were set out 

 at random, as they came without labels, 

 and many of them were unfamiliar to me. 

 I do not find that they interfere much 

 80 



