me may be of real practical assistance. The pictures give 

 examples of successful results already obtained by more experi- 

 enced gardeners, and should be suggestive of countless others. 

 Fortunately this grouping for colour-effect is irrespective of the 

 size of the garden ; most of the illustrations have been painted 

 from our own or other small gardens, giving effects which are 

 within the reach of many. 



Cottage gardens show us what admirable results can be 

 achieved on a small plot of ground with simple flowers 

 results which grander gardens often fail to attain : the latter 

 often suffer in general effect from a too great variety of 

 plants, and a too widespread diffusion, or from an attempt 

 to grow interesting plants not suited to the soil. Want of 

 opportunity for procuring a great variety of plants, or a slender 

 purse, obliges the cottage gardener, unintentionally perhaps, to 

 produce his effect by one flower at a time. This special charm 

 of the cottage garden is finely expressed by Lord Tennyson : 



" One look'd all rose tree, and another wore 

 A close-set robe of jasmine sown with stars : 

 This had a rosy sea of gillyflowers 

 About it ; this a milky way on earth, 

 Like visions in the Northern dreamer's heavens, 

 A lily avenue climbing to the doors ; 

 One, almost to the martin-haunted eaves, 

 A summer burial deep in hollyhocks ; 

 Each its own charm." 

 viii 



