236 POT-POURRI FROM A SURREY GARDEN 



be the best of Governments in which an injury done to 

 the meanest subject is an insult to the whole community. 



' This is pretty much the law of a garden. 



' Nothing is more objectionable than the manner in 

 which the common plants are often treated to make way 

 for the grandees. Bulbs taken up before they are ready, 

 and dwarfed for next season in consequence ; small trees 

 or shrubs transplanted carelessly, and thrust in wher- 

 ever they will do no harm, because a little too good to 

 throw away, and not quite good enough to deserve just 

 treatment; and many other plants neglected, over- 

 shadowed, or in some way stinted of their due, as not 

 being worth much trouble. At times, even worse than 

 this, we see murderous digging and slashing amongst 

 plants in their period of growth. This is not a healthy 

 process for the mind. Whatever is unfairly treated is 

 better altogether away, since we can view it with no hearty 

 relish. And this injustice to the least is felt inevitably in 

 a measure by all, for it affects the spirit of the place. 

 Half the charm of the old-fashioned garden lies in that 

 look of happy rest among the plants, each of which seems 

 to say : " All plant life is sacred when admitted, my own 

 repose has never been disturbed, and I am confident it 

 never will be." You feel this to be a sort of heaven 

 of plant life, preserved by some hidden charm from the 

 intrusion of noxious weeds. The modern garden, on the 

 contrary, is too apt to assume a look of stir and change ; 

 here to-day, gone to-morrow. The very tidiness of the 

 beds and the neat propriety of the plants contribute to 

 this impression. We feel the omnipresence of a severity 

 which cannot tolerate straggling. None have been ad- 

 mitted but polished gentlemen, who will never break the 

 rules ; and we feel that the most cherished offender would 

 be instantly punished. 



' I have been referring here to the herbaceous plants 



