WHAT I KNOW ABOUT GARDENING. 1 09 



its broad leaves high in the air, and is months in 

 perfecting itself, and then yields us not enough 

 for a dinner. It grows because it delights to do 

 so, to take the juices out of my ground, to 

 absorb my fertilizers, to wax luxuriant, and dis 

 port itself in the summer air, and with very 

 little thought of making any return to me. I 

 might go all through my garden and fruit-trees 

 with a similar result. I have heard of places 

 where there was very little land to the acre. 

 It is universally true that there is a great deal 

 of vegetable show and fuss for the result pro 

 duced. I do not complain of this. One cannot 

 expect vegetables to be better than men : and 

 they make a great deal of ostentatious splurge ; 

 and many of them come to no result at last. 

 Usually, the more show of leaf and wood, the 

 less fruit. This melancholy reflection is thrown 

 in here in order to make dog-days seem cheer 

 ful in comparison. 



